Please read carefully the Terms & Conditions set out below.
Before any research begins you (the client) and I will have agreed in writing the professional service/s that you require. This may be a package, hourly fixed rate or specific research detailed by you at the time of our agreement.
Time frame
I aim to complete research blocks of 6 hours or less within 4-6 weeks, and blocks of 8-12 hours within 6-12 weeks, although sometimes the particular nature of a brief can enable an earlier finish. Longer term research projects are quoted for upon request, please email me for details and a quotation. If you require Copy Certificates (eg Birth, Marriage, Death) to be ordered as part of the report this may delay completion of project. Once I have received payment, I will email you regarding confirmation of contract and estimated dates for start and completion. The start date will allow for your statutory right to a seven working day cooling off period.
Reports and associated documentation will be forwarded to the client electronically. If you wish to receive hard copies of the report and/or some or all of the associated documentation please email me for a price.
If you require an individual document/certificate lookup/photocopy please email me for a quotation.
What will you receive at the end of the project?
With every research package I will provide you full details of the research performed. This generally includes:
- Research Report. A summary of the results of our research, including suggestions for the next steps you can take in your research.
- Research Calendar/Log. A report of the sources examined and the results. Sometimes this report is combined with the research report.
- Upon request, digital images of the documents I found (fees may apply)
- Upon request, you can receive a GEDCOM file of the records found or access instructions for a tree I updated or created. (fees may apply)
- Upon request, you can receive a printed book for an additional fee.
Payment
Payment is required prior to the start of each stage of the research. A single payment in GBP (pounds sterling) should be made either by PayPal (available to all) to info@jaynemcgarvey.com by cheque (UK clients only) or sterling International Money Transfer (overseas clients). Please indicate how you would like to pay on the assessment questionnaire.
Clients wishing to avail of longer term research projects may pay by instalments please email me for details.
Genealogy Research is not an exact science and there are no absolute guarantees that you will obtain your end goal or what you are looking for. You are paying for my time and expertise as a researcher. No two family research projects are the same, each posing its own individual problems, and progress with some family lines can be considerably easier and faster than with others. Moreover, we are often working with records that in places can be damaged, illegible or incomplete. It is therefore impossible to foretell accurately the speed and degree of success. I will however provide a report showing each search performed, whether or not it was successful and the information, or lack of, that can be gleaned from each search.
The outcome of my research naturally depends on the quality and reliability of the sources they are based on. All my research is undertaken in good faith and, while I cannot guarantee it will be exhaustive, I will endeavour to ensure that my results are as detailed and accurate as possible.
There is also no certainty as to how far back one is able to go in that so much is dependent on records having survived or that information has been recorded incorrectly. However, if this is the case and I am unable to go back at least one generation I will clearly explain why I am unable to continue with the research and offer any possible alternative avenues. If this should be the case, you will only be charged for my time up to this particular point and at the agreed hourly rate. If you have paid for a package then you can instruct me to continue with another line in your family history should you prefer.
Evidence is not always direct but can be indirect or circumstantial. Sources can be original or derivative and from primary or secondary evidence. Sometimes generalisations will need to be made dependent on the information found or not found. If this is the case I will inform you where and how your information has come about in as clear and a definitive manner as the facts allow.
All sources of data will be cited. As Client you may limit the amount of time and cost to be expended.
As my client you will need to provide me with all the information you already have and this will be the basis of my research. This may include dates, names, places, family stories that have been passed down, documents or certificates that you may already have; scanned images are sufficient as long as they are readable. In some cases you may of course have very little information.
Privacy Policy
In order to receive information or services you will be asked to provide personal information such as name, address, date of birth for yourself and close relatives. Any such information will only be used for research, record keeping and accounting purposes by me (or someone in my employment). No information will be shared with third parties or passed on to any other parties, unless this is at your request (e.g. sending a research report to a relative on your behalf). Information will be retained until such a time as you request information is removed from our records. You have the right to request a copy of the personal information that I hold about you and to have any inaccuracies corrected. Please address any such request to Jayne McGarvey at info@jaynemcgarvey.com or by post to Jayne McGarvey, 39 Ballyknockan Road, Ballygowan, Newtownards, BT23 6NR.
Unfortunately, no data transmission over the Internet can be guaranteed to be 100% secure. As a result, while I strive to protect your personal information, I cannot ensure or warrant the security of any information you transmit to us or from my online services, and you do so at your own risk. Once I receive your transmission, I make my best effort to ensure its security on my systems.
Please keep in mind that whenever you voluntarily disclose personal information online – for example in ads that you post or through email – that information can be collected and used by others. In short, if you post personal information online that is accessible to the public, you may receive unsolicited messages from other parties in return. Ultimately, you are solely responsible for maintaining the secrecy of your passwords and/or any account information.
There are extra costs for obtaining Certificates from the General Register Office, charges for Photocopies/Photography/Scanning or similar can vary dependent on local record offices. Only essential documents will be copied to keep costs down. I will endeavour at all times to keep you informed of and agree any additional costs in advance of these being occurred.
I reserve the right to refuse any research for personal reasons, the amount of work I am currently undertaking at a given time and for example; should the only information you are able to supply me with is the name John Murphy who lived in Ireland in the 1800’s. The likelihood of success with limited information such as this would be questionable; this therefore protects you, your money and time.
I am entitled to hold all documents until your invoice has been fully paid in total.
Acknowledgment that you have read and understood these terms & conditions will be asked for at the time of agreeing the professional service required.