Frequently Asked Questions

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No question is too small or too silly.

Please feel free to reach out to me through the Contact page or click the circled Facebook logo on this page to go to my business page on Facebook where you can contact me on Messenger.

  • Following any preliminary questions you may have, which I am happy to answer when you first reach out. (No question is too silly!) The next stage is a FREE, no obligation consultation, via either either Messenger text, WhatsApp text, phone text, phone call, audio call on Messenger, audio call on WhatsApp, or email. Whatever method is most convenient and comfortable for you.

    During the FREE consultation, I will learn your full story, about any research you’ve already conducted, and discuss your goals. I will inquire about which commercial DNA companies you’ve tested with, if any. You’ll also have the opportunity to ask questions about the process, and I will explain how it applies to your specific situation.

    After this, if you wish to go ahead, I will give you the Password to access the 'Payment' page, so you can make your payment. All major credit and debit cards are accepted, as well as Apple Pay and PayPal. Checkout is SSL Secured.

    See the FAQ on how much does it cost, for details.

    Throughout the research process, I will continue to prioritize your privacy, remaining flexible and contacting you in the manner and at the times that best meet your needs.

  • Genetic genealogy is the practice of combining DNA testing with traditional genealogical research to help identify long-lost family members/genetic relatives. Some people call this job a dna detective.

    By analysing your DNA results and comparing them with others in commercial databases, close genetic matches can be identified. Various tools and resources—such as DNA database tools, historical records, genealogical research, and family tree development, as well as other tools—are then used to determine how these matches are related to you and to help identify and locate, if you wish, the genetic relative/s you are seeking.

  • Not at all! It’s perfectly fine if you haven’t taken a commercial DNA test before reaching out to me.

    I encourage you to get in contact with any questions you may have and I can guide you on choosing the best commercial DNA testing company based on your specific needs. Don’t hesitate to get in touch and ask me about this as it could well save you money, in avoiding paying for more DNA tests than you have to, because some commercial DNA companies will accept transfer of raw DNA data from other commercial DNA companies and some don't. So who you test with first can be key. On top of that, some companies have much larger data bases, especially AncestryDNA.

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This link below goes straight to AncestryDNA kits on Amazon which are sold by Ancestry on the Ancestry store.

    https://amzn.to/3DDaoKs

    Once you’ve completed the test and received your results, you can reach out to me again to explore your case further.

  • This is a common challenge and one of the main reasons people turn to a genetic genealogist. The great news is that genetic genealogy can sometimes be particularly effective in these situations. I have successfully identified genetic parents and relatives even with no names recorded on birth certificates.

  • I will start by learning your full story and understanding who you are looking to identify and contact, if you wish. I also want to know about any research you’ve conducted yourself, if any.

    If you have relevant certificates, I will need to see copies, which can be simple photos of the originals. Additionally, it’s important to share whether you’ve tested with any commercial DNA companies, and to discuss your goals—whether you’re seeking to just identify or are also interested in making contact, either in person or through other means.

    I understand that these goals may evolve as you progress through the process.

    Please note: It is sometimes not possible to make a definite identification of a person within a family, without making some kind of contact. It depends on the number of siblings within a family etc, or how common surnames are etc.

    Clients who have not wished for contact have sometimes, for example, got as far as finding out that they are the child of one of a possible number of siblings, but without contact, they have not known which sibling is their parent

    Some people prefer to stay content with that level of knowledge as long as there is no contact and some people, although initially saying no contact, change their mind in order to find out who exactly their genetic relative is.

    In these situations, using me as an intermediary to establish contact with a family in order to find out who the genetic relative is, can make things feel a little more comfortable for the person being contacted and they may react better when the contact is not initially directly from the genetic relative. Only because it can soften the shock in cases where the family have no prior knowledge or they have knowledge but didn't expect to be found and the family in their current life know nothing about you. In these cases, intermediary contact can work well to buffer the news.

    You are, however, not obliged to use me as an intermediary. You can make initial contact yourself if you choose.

  • After all initial questions answered, the next stage is a FREE, no obligation consultation with me, via Messenger text, Messenger audio, text, email, phone call, Whatsapp audio call or WhatsApp text. Whatever method is comfortable for you.

    If after the consultation, you would like me to do an initial 7 hours of DNA Results Match Analysis, which includes Leeds Method grouping, if applicable,the cost is £85.

    After receiving feedback from the analysis, if you would like me to research your case, I work in a 10 hour block of genetic genealogy research. The cost is £180.

    I also can act as Intermediary in contacting a birth relative/s who I have researched using genetic genealogy/modern research tools, if you wish. This can also be after research via a non DNA route. The cost is £85 (Regardless of the potential number of digital contacts to be made and inclusive of any research tool costs and all postage costs for up to 30 letters written to individual people, if required. If more individual people need letters due to a more common name, then a custom price will be agreed with you.)

    You can, if you prefer, take all the information and do all the contact work yourself. It is my experience that having a 3rd party to make that contact in a sensitive approach can be less of a shock for the person receiving the contact.

    When you are ready to pay, I will give you the Password for the 'Payment' page where all major credit and debit cards are accepted, as well as Apple Pay and PayPal. Checkout is SSL Secure.

  • Yes, if you would like me to, I can act as an intermediary in initially contacting your genetic relative/s, where you are unsure about contacting them directly and how it might be received. As long as they are genetic relatives I have identified or confirmed during my research.

    For cost, see the FAQ on how much does it cost.

    I have experience in writing sensitively worded messages and letters-where letters are appropriate-to researched genetic long lost family.

    Please note and see in the next FAQ, I cannot act as a specialist intermediary specifically to obtain key information from your adoption file and to contact genetic relatives named on that file on your behalf.

  • No, sadly I cannot act as a Specialist Intermediary specifically to obtain key information from your adoption file and to contact genetic relatives named on that file, on your behalf.

    The intermediaries who do this specialist work are accredited to work specifically on obtaining this information. They are sometimes social workers registered to do this work.

    If you know the council via which you were adopted: Contact the adoption team at the council where the adoption was processed. They might have an in-house intermediary service or be able to recommend a specialist agency.

    If you don't know the council, or you were adopted via an agency outside of the council: Start by obtaining your original birth certificate from the General Register Office (GRO) to gather more information. Then you can contact national organizations like Adoption UK, CoramBAAF, or Barnardo's, which can guide you to specialist adoption intermediaries. You can also search for Adoption Support Agencies online or use directories like First4Adoption.

    If needed, consult a specialist solicitor or reach out to online adoption forums for recommendations on reputable Specialist Intermediaries.

  • It’s natural to feel anxious about the possibility of rejection when reaching out to a genetic relative, and you’re not alone in this concern. While every situation is unique, it’s true that some people do experience rejection, reluctance or silence from the genetic relative/s who are found. Sometimes just initially, sometimes ongoingly.

    This can happen for various reasons, including the relative’s emotional readiness, their current circumstances, or their expectations about the connection. However, many people also find that their relatives are open, curious, willing to establish a relationship and happy to have been contacted.

    To help prepare for any outcome, going to see a counsellor where you can explore your feelings and develop strategies for managing the possibility of rejection, may be a good plan, if you feel that is something you could do.

    It’s important to approach this journey with realistic expectations and self-compassion, understanding that whatever the outcome, it’s a significant and brave step towards uncovering your story.

  • When you are ready to pay, I will give you a Password for the 'Payment' page, where all major credit and debit cards are accepted, as well as Apple Pay and PayPal. The page has a secure SSL checkout.

  • I can help both in DNA advice and non DNA methods, using modern search tools. I have previously been able to locate birth children for clients. It’s never a given that I will be able to every time, but I do have success. I will find out from you what you know and we will go from there.

  • The payment page is password protected to prevent people paying for a service without having had any contact with me first to ascertain whether I can assist them and in what way.

    The price of the services are on the Home page and in the FAQ page.

    Once I have agreed with a client how they would like to proceed then I will give them the password to access the payment page (which is part of my website and is a secure page). There are options to pay by debit/credit card, PayPal or Apple Pay.

  • You cannot buy a DNA test directly from me as the autosomal DNA tests which are primarily the best kind to do genetic genealogy are the commercial DNA tests like Ancestry which has the biggest database.

    However as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases: Here is the link to AncestryDNA kits at the Ancestry Store on Amazon. If you have Amazon Prime there will be no shipping costs ordering it this way and the kit will arrive quicker than ordering it from the AncestryDNA site. https://amzn.to/3VPEMaQ

DNA Investigations: How to find my biological grandparents