Witness Tree Genealogy

What we do

Every engagement starts with your question(s) about a specific ancestor and a written research plan you approve before any work begins. The plan states what will be searched, where, and what you will receive. We research in original records — census, vital records, church registers, probate, land, court, military, immigration, newspapers, and more — including free and open archives as well as in some paid resources under their professional-research terms. Findings come back as a fully cited written report to the Genealogical Proof Standard: what the records show, what they don't, and how confident each conclusion is.

How an engagement works

1. A free consultation. Tell us the question(s) and what you already have. We say honestly whether it's researchable and the likely next steps.
2. A written plan and a custom quote. Fixed-fee engagements in blocks of research hours, priced from the plan. A founding-client rate is available to our first clients.
3. Research. We keep you informed along the way. Long-lead record requests go out first. Depending on the plan, typical timelines range from a few weeks to a few months.
4. Your report. A cited research report, copies of every record obtained, a plan for what comes next, and a walkthrough call.

What you should know before you start

• The records decide the answer — not us. You're paying for thorough, honest research: what we found, what we didn't, and our assessment of what's most likely given the evidence. Some questions can't be answered by surviving records, and a documented "the records don't resolve this" is a complete outcome. We tell you up front how researchable we think your question is.
• The unexpected happens. Research can turn up things families never mentioned. You decide in advance how you want that handled.
• What we don't do. No investigations, forensic or law-enforcement work, locating living people, or DNA analysis. We hold no DNA data. Living relatives appear in our work only through interviews they agree to.

Who this is for

People with a specific question about a specific ancestor who want documented answers they can keep, share, and build on — not a subscription, an algorithm's hint, or an unsourced tree.