Everything you want to know about your ancestor

Meet the Person behind the Records

How Much Can You Really Discover About Your Ancestor?

Your ancestor is related to France and you need a targeted research on that person. We are here to help.

Beyond basic vital records lies a wealth of archival documentation: census entries, military service, and what nots. We systematically search French archives to locate every accessible record and build the most complete documentary profile possible.

Our “Ancestor Biography” Service is a comprehensive archival investigation designed to locate and document every accessible record about one individual.

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Why Basic Research Leaves Gaps

Single records show isolated moments, not a complete life
A birth certificate tells you one day. A marriage record, another. But what happened between? What’s missing from the timeline?
Standard genealogy stops at vital records
Most family trees contain birth, marriage, death — and nothing else. Census, military service, property transactions, migrations, occupations, legal documents all remain unfound.
Scattered archives mean incomplete profiles
Key records sit in different repositories — civil registrations in one place, military files in another, notarial archives elsewhere. Without systematic cross-archive research, you get fragments, not the full picture.
Limited search scope misses contextual documentation
Searching only for direct ancestors means missing siblings’ records, godparent relationships, witness appearances, property inheritances — all of which reveal more about your ancestor’s life and status.
Language and access barriers prevent deep dives
French archives require not just language skills but knowledge of record types, regional variations, and research methodology to extract maximum information.

What the Ancestor Biography covers

Ancestor Biography includes 6 hours of archival research.

The research covers:

  • The starting person’s documented life events
  • Their parents
  • Their four grandparents
  • Their siblings

Research is conducted in French archival sources and delivered in English. It may exceptionally extend to Belgium and Luxembourg.

Ancestor Biography

Ancestor Biography

$628

What This Service Delivers

A Complete Documentary Profile

A 15–40 page digital report presenting all discovered records about your ancestor — vital registrations, census entries, military service, property records, legal documents, and more — systematically researched and chronologically organized.

Evidence-Rich Documentation

Every record discovered is translated into English, and presented with source citations.

An Enriched Family Framework

Where records allow, we document parents, siblings, spouses, children, and even grandparents to establish complete family structure and relationships across generations.

Context That Explains the Records

We interpret each document within its historical and cultural framework — explaining what record types mean, what they reveal about social status, occupation, regional practices, and life circumstances.

Traditional genealogy research focuses primarily on establishing facts and tracing family relationships. An Ancestor Biography brings those findings together to present a documented account of one person’s life.
The research covers the ancestor’s documented life events, parents, four grandparents, and siblings. The resulting book combines the available genealogical evidence with relevant historical context to help place the person’s life within its time and circumstances.

The service focuses on one ancestor and their immediate family. It covers the ancestor’s documented life events, parents, four grandparents, and siblings, within the six hours of research included in the service.
The extent of the findings depends on the records available. We cannot guarantee that every family member or life event will be documented.

You will receive a personalised printed book presenting your ancestor’s documented life, family relationships, and relevant historical context. The book includes English transcriptions of the records found and a pedigree chart.
An accompanying booklet contains images of the original records found. This booklet is provided on a complimentary basis, subject to applicable archival restrictions.

The estimated completion time is 6–10 weeks from project activation. Your project is activated when we have received both your payment or deposit and your completed intake questionnaire.
This estimate includes research, writing, and production of the printed deliverables. The actual timeframe may vary or exceed the estimate depending on research complexity, archival availability, workload, and production conditions. International shipping may add further time.

We need at least one concrete, verifiable piece of information containing a name, date, or location that can help establish a starting point.
Family documents, photographs, certificates, census records, and details of events you already know about can all be useful. You do not need to have every detail, but the information you provide must give us a basis for beginning the research.
After your order is confirmed, you will receive an intake questionnaire to share the information and supporting material. You can complete it online or return the PDF version by email.

You do not need to have a complete family tree before commissioning an Ancestor Biography. However, we need some concrete information to identify the person and begin the research.
You can book a free 30-minute consultation before ordering. We can discuss what you know about your ancestor, the records or documents you already have, and whether the service appears suitable for your goals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to common questions about our Ancestor Biography Service. If your question isn’t listed, reach out and let’s explore it together.

The Process

STEP 1

Secure Your Package

Select the service and complete the secure checkout. You may choose to pay in full or provide a 50% deposit to begin.

Optionally, we can begin with a 30-minute free consultation to ensure your research goals are achievable based on the information you have.

STEP 2

Share Your Family Details

You’ll receive a private link to our secure client form. Share all known details and upload any family documents, photos, or notes to guide our work.

Your project and estimated timeline begin once this form and payment are received.

STEP 3

Receive Your Heirloom History

You receive a comprehensive documentary report with all findings organized chronologically, complete with translations, analysis, and source bibliography.

The Expertise Behind Our Research

Rigorous Archival Investigation

We track your lineage through verified French records using a methodical, source-first approach, accross multiple sources. Parish registers, civil records, and archival collections are cross-checked to establish solid links and avoid guesswork.

Language as a Bridge

Original images of French records are provided, accompanied by their English translations. Names, dates, relationships and nuances are all preserved, providing a clear and accurate representation of each document.

Understanding of the context

Each finding is rooted in its time and place. Local history, occupations and social context transform individual records into a coherent and meaningful narrative.

Book your free consultation

We’d be honored to help you find clarity.