Hiring a Professional Researcher
From JewishGen: http://www.jewishgen.org/InfoFiles/ProfGen.html:
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Usually the professional genealogist charges an hourly rate plus out-of-pocket expenses.
Hourly fees range from $20 to $75 depending upon experience, credentials and areas of
specialty
Some establish a minimum number of hours and require retainers.
The time charged for includes time to study and analyze the request, execute the research
and report the results. In most cases, the customer also pays for travel time, as well as calls
to the researcher for discussions
Reporting Methods: document copies, document analysis + translation, suggestions for
additional research based on the info in that document, summary of research completed
Customarily, clients are given a list of all sources and repositories used for the research,
including sources that did not produce results.
Include a self-addressed stamped envelope with your letter outlining research goals and
family info applicable to the goal
The LDS (Mormon) Family History Library also accredits genealogists. It has a certification
called Accredited Genealogist (AG).
Association of Professional Genealogists (APG): http://www.apgen.org/
Is the researcher doing this as a livelihood or a part-time? A person who makes a living at
genealogy, and has practiced for a number of years, must have a large number of satisfied
clients.
Ask the clients (reference) also what the client disliked about the genealogist
Questions for potential researcher:
 Areas of research: examples of previous researches done: area, material obtained, etc.
 No. of years of experience
 Fee
 Reporting method: what can we expect him to give us?
 References / recommendations
 Languages spoken
List of Professional Researchers from JewishGen
Not an official list of JewishGen, only recommendations of JewishGen users.
Name &
Residence
Marciniak,
Michel Warsaw
APG Certified
Rychlik,
Grazyna;
Warsaw
APG Certified
Email & Website
Research
Area/Time
Referring
JG Name
office@polgenresearch.com;
polgenresearch.com
Galicia
2007/2008
Nolan
Altman
gsp@guidingpoland.pl;
www.guidingpoland.pl
Galicia 20092010
Philip
Freidenreich
Bielecki, Lukasz
Poznan
Bielecki@Rose.Man.Poznan.Pl
Galicia 2006
Arnold
Chamove
Selerowicz ,
Andrzej
seler@chello.at
Galicia;
2007/2008
Peter Haas
Koszewska,
Julia; Warsaw
julia.koszewska@gmail.com;
juliakoszewska.wordpress.com/
Galicia/
Warsaw;
2009-2010
Nicolas
Trokiner
Schroeder,
Petje; Lodz
petje_schroeder@toya.net.pl
Galicia 20052010
Philip
Freidenreich
Grycza,
Katarzyna
(Kasia); Poznan
katarzynaka_grycza@poczta.on
et.pl
Galicia; 20052007
Liba Maimon
info@Jewish-guide.pl
Galicia;
2007/2008
Mady Land
robertbogusz@op.pl
Galicia;
2009/2010
Stephen
Schmideg
Cebulski,
Tomasz ;
Cracow
Bogusz, Robert;
Krakow
Znamirowski,
Zenon; Poland
zenon@polishorigins.com;
PolishOrigins.com
Poland, 2006
Genia
Hollander
Bieniaszewska,
Anna; Torun
anchrus@poczta.onet.pl
West Prussia /
Poland; 2006
David Lewin
Brief Summary of Completed
Research
Visit archives, research vital records
& residence lists; obtain copies of
original documents, translate
documents & assist w/general questi.
Archive Research, doc. Transl., BMD
records in Warsaw, Grojec,
Mogielnica; prepared excel of data
Archive Research. Translations.
Registered Guide. Drove us to
towns. Has done more research for
me at reasonable fee. Good English.
Archive Research/document
translations
Document Translations; City Guide.
Provided info on Jewish sites worth
seeing in the town, & translated
documents.
(1) Archive Research/document
translations; Books of Residents,
BMD records in Lodz & environs;
prepared Excel spreadsheet & family
tree in Word
Archive Research/document
translations. Went to the archive in
Poznan, found documents &
translated them. Took me to towns
connected to my family; touring
places of interest to my family.’
Archive Research/document
translations/city guide/photos. Also
creation of family trees
Archive Research
Research projects related to
Forefathers Traces Tours. Wrote to
the USC in Suwalki & obtained
relevant documents for my family;
researched other areas i.e.
Wasilishok-Lida & maintains contact
advising of new developments.
Archive Research. Transcribing old
German handwriting. Provide me
w/wide ranging documentation &
background about my father's wider
family
List of Researcher from APG
List: http://www.apgen.org/directory/search_results.html?sort=country_desc
Name
Organization
City
Country
Kuczynski, Marek
Sokolowski, Marcin
Rychlik, Grazyna
Steiner f. Lustgarten, Marta
Marciniak, Michal J.
Pucula, Agnieszka
Stettner, Zbigniew
GeneaTranslat M. Kuczynski & M. Sokolowski
GeneaTranslat M. Kuczynski & M. Sokolowski
Guiding Services Poland
PFF-Polish Family Finder
PolGen Research
GenoHeritage
PolishGen
Warsaw
Warsaw
Warszawa
Wroclaw
Warsaw
Warsaw
Krakow
Poland
Poland
Poland
Poland
Poland
Poland
Poland
CV Summaries
Name
Specialty
Experience
Kuczynski, Marek
heir search & restitution of properties, translations,
family research in Poland
heir search & restitution of properties, translations,
family research in Poland
Research, translations, tour guide
Records, holocaust, translations,
Land records, no summary of services or biography
Translation, records
Federal records, travel guide, no info on services / bio
15 years
Sokolowski, Marcin
Rychlik, Grazyna
Steiner f. Lustgarten, Marta
Marciniak, Michal J.
Pucula, Agnieszka
Stettner, Zbigniew
15 years
3 years
n/a
n/a
6 years
n/a
Correspondence
Name
Sokolowski, Marcin
Rychlik, Grazyna
Marciniak, Michal J.
Pucula, Agnieszka
Organization
GeneaTranslat, msokolowski@post.pl,
www.geneatranslat.com.pl
Guiding Services, gsp@guidingpoland.pl
PolGen Research, office@polgenresearch.com
GenoHeritage: contact@genoheritage.eu
Status
Email: 13-Aug-11
Email: 13-Aug-11
Suitable? Email: 13-Aug-11
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Ask for a letter of agreement between you and the researcher before any money is
exchanged or work is performed that includes:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Scope of work to be performed
No. of hours expected with some extra time under specified circumstances
Fees to be charged for various activities
Explanation of what the retainer covers and how it will be applied toward final payment
Provision for research to extend past terms of initial agreement and how additional
authorizations are to be put in writing
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The agreement should identify who holds the copyright to the written research reports. Your
researcher probably will retain that right. This means you cannot publish the report without
the researcher’s permission.
If your researcher is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists and you
believe he or she has not worked within the Code of Ethics (printed to the right), you can file
a grievance with the organization. APG will work with you and the professional to mediate
the disagreement