Feasibility Assessment$350 — non-refundableA standalone diagnostic project to determine whether a proposed research question is answerable given available records — generally about 3 hours of research and 2 hours of written assessment or research design. Not credited toward later work, as it is its own discrete deliverable.
Research-for-Hire — Standard Rate$80 / hourInvestigation of a specific research question or focused set of questions, culminating in a written report. We recommend projects of 30–40 hours; research and writing are generally apportioned at a 1:1 ratio.
Research-for-Hire — JewishGen MembersDiscounted rate availableReduced rates are available to JewishGen members, with proof of membership. Project scope and structure does not differ from the standard rate.
Flat Fee — Single Family Line$2,000 – $4,000Full documentation of a single ancestral line (maternal or paternal). Fee depends on the number of generations the investigation must cover.
Flat Fee — Four Family Lines$11,000 – $15,000Full documentation across all four main lines of a family.
Mentoring$80 / hourClient conducts the research; a HoldenWorks consultant oversees and teaches along the way. No written deliverable is produced.
Tree Checking and Building$500 for corroborating existing treeErrors are quite common on hobbyist-constructed trees. We seek to validate each name by checking documentation from official sources.$800 / lineWe reach back as many as 6 generations, documentation available. Although each family varies, this is often 64 ancestors or more.
Heritage / Legacy tour planning$350 - $500We help plan your next ancestral trip itinerary, based on towns found in record searches of identified ancestors. Charge based on the nunber of ancestors traced.
Project Doctor$90 / hourCompletion of remaining field research on a client's existing work, and/or production of a written product — report, family tree, coffee-table book, or narrative family history — from material the client has already gathered.
Genealogical Skills BuildingRates vary depending on the activity. Short courses generally = $100.Mini-courses, workshops, moderated discussions, and podcasts on practical genealogical skills.
All fees are billed in accordance with a signed client contract, which includes language standard to the field. This includes:
a promise to protect the privacy of living subjects;
acknowledgement that researchers cannot be held liable for the unearthing of unexpected information;
results cannot be guaranteed prior to initiating a project.
Most projects are completed in 3 months. Some can be concluded within 2-3 weeks.