Terms & Conditions

Before any work begins, I will ask for any information or documentation you already possess. I will use this to carry out a free initial assessment to ensure the feasibility of the research. 

If there is a positive outcome from the assessment, I will develop a research plan itemising the areas to be searched and including an estimate of the anticipated hours required to complete the research. No work will begin until we have both agreed the content of the research plan.

My fee for research, analysis and reporting is £25 per hour. In addition, there will be the cost of purchasing essential documents for example, civil registration certificates of birth, marriage or death.

Postage costs will also apply if you prefer not to receive your report electronically.

If a project is estimated to require 6 or more hours of work, I will request a 25% deposit before beginning the project. The formal report will be released when all monies have been paid and cleared.    

Clients may prefer to choose a Pay as You Go option where they pay for shorter blocks of time; 2 or 3 hours of time are quite popular. This can help you stay in control of your budget. If you choose this option, I will provide the full report when the project is completed. This is because ongoing research can influence the most appropriate way to present the report. In this situation, I am pleased to provide an overview by email after each block of hours has been paid for.

Payment for all options can be made by cheque, PayPal or BACS transfer.

Please note that the survival of records is not guaranteed, and I may need to approach the issue from a different angle.

On occasion, I may collaborate with researchers in other parts of the UK if they can more easily access Archive documentation essential to your project. I will always discuss with you first. Other researchers will not be given your personal details.

Please note that research may uncover information which may be uncomfortable or upsetting. I am professionally bound to report such information but will do so in a sensitive manner.

While the project is ongoing, I will keep you updated by email, at least fortnightly.

All research reports are copyrighted to Patricia Marks Family Historian and therefore should not be shared either publicly or digitally without permission. You can, however, share with family and friends.