Each customized research project generally includes the following steps:

1. Review of information provided by the client: This step not only provides a starting point for all upstream or downstream genealogical research, it establishes what information is already known and why it is believed to be true. *It is very important for the client to disclose any research — even informally —completed in the past, so that time and energy are not wasted covering ground that has already been visited.

2. Development of a research plan: Here the researcher will develop a research plan, based upon what the client wants to discover. This plan is tailored to answer a specific research question(s). For example, a client who wants to know about their great-grandfather’s World War I service in the R.A.F. would likely require a search in the UK National Archives. This research plan would be markedly different a client who wanted to learn about their great-great-grandmother’s immigration to New York from Germany, and her subsequent naturalization.

3. Search, retrieval, and analysis of evidence: This is the fun step! Here we seek out information within records — vital records, documents, images, diaries, ledgers, deeds, estate files, photographs, maps — and look for evidence items that provide direct, indirect, or negative evidence responsive to the client’s research question(s). Each item of evidence is recorded, sourced, and cited in a research log, and then correlated and analyzed for relevance. The researcher will attempt to resolve any conflicting evidence.

4. Written report of findings, including negative findings: A client’s written report will include an executive summary, source citations supporting factual findings as well as records searched, along with an analysis of the evidence and images, extracts, and abstracts of records that were examined.

5. Recommendations for future research: No genealogical conclusion enjoys 100% certainty. In some instances, evidence may be discovered in the future which alters, expands, or refutes existing findings. Future research recommendations identify other repositories or archives which may be useful in a client’s genealogy quest.   

Products:

• Clients will be provided with a written research report in PDF and/or MS Word format. *Research report examples can be viewed HERE and HERE.

• Clients will be provided with a ordered, chronological research log in MS Excel format containing source links, citations, abstracts or extracts of research items, and document images.

• Digital copies of all documents used for analysis are provided.

• Documents, photos, and images will be provided via USB flash drive or via internet cloud download.

Pricing:

• $50.00 per hour for standard research. The client can set the maximum cost for any project.

• A 50% retainer may be requested prior to the commencement of large projects or those requiring significant upfront expenses.

• Actual cost: Copies of official documents and vital records. If the costs associated with obtaining physical records (usually by mail) is unusually high, the researcher will contact and advise the client beforehand.

• Actual cost: Postage, photocopies, microfilm rental, and other incidental expenses.

• Actual Cost: Use of subcontractors for document retrieval as needed and authorized by the client.

• Travel expenses are not charged within 40-mile radius.

• Use of pre-existing online data search subscriptions is not charged.

Terms and Conditions:

• Clients are charged for all research, even if the time spent researching fails to uncover or resolve a research objective. If it looks like a particular research approach will be fruitless or time-consuming (with a low probability of payoff), the researcher will advise the client.

• Payments accepted via check, Paypal, or Venmo.

• Client’s are not charged for the researcher’s education (learning while doing); the time it might take for a researcher to learn where to search, in an unfamiliar subject or area. It is unusual for a researcher to know every possible records source needed for a project, so the time it takes to learn new sources, methods or research tactics is not passed on as a cost to our clients.

• Copyright: All factual findings derived from a research report may be shared and used freely by our clients. However, the written research report and attached copyright belong to Argos Investigations. Without copyright, another person could plagiarize our research products, represent them as their own, and claim fraudulent ownership and authorship.