DNA Match Analysis & Family Identification ($200 for 3 hours, plus I donate 6 hours = 9 hours)
If you are searching for a birth parent, a missing relative, or an unknown branch of your family, DNA results can provide answers—but only when they are interpreted carefully and methodically. I understand that these searches are often personal and can be stressful, and that clients are looking for clear, well-supported conclusions rather than partial or rushed work.
Each project is priced at $200 for three hours of paid research, and I include up to six additional hours of my time at no extra cost. This is intentional. DNA cases rarely fit neatly into a strict hourly block, and it often takes several hours to properly group matches, test hypotheses, and determine whether a lead is valid. Rather than stopping mid-analysis or delivering incomplete results, I continue working so the project receives a fair and thorough evaluation.
Earlier in my career, I took on a number of “search angel” cases at no cost. There is a significant and ongoing demand for this type of work, and it quickly becomes more than any one person can reasonably sustain. Structuring projects as paid engagements allows me to focus on a manageable number of clients who are committed to their research goals, while still dedicating the time required to do the work properly.
DNA work is structured around a clearly defined research question and begins with a brief consultation to ensure the scope is focused. Analysis centers on your AncestryDNA results, prioritizing close matches, identifying shared ancestor patterns, grouping matches into clusters, and building working trees to test possible relationships. You will receive a written summary explaining what the DNA evidence supports, what remains unresolved, and recommended next steps if additional research is needed.
Requirements for best results: Your DNA must be tested through Ancestry.com, and you must have close matches (1st cousins or closer) on the relevant side of the family. For U.S.-based family trees.
Q. Is a few hours enough to get anything done?
Yes! You’d be surprised! Twice now I’ve identified a biological parent in under an hour (in each case the person had significant errors in their trees, that when cleared up, pointed right to right people). And I also recently determined who the biological father of my (1860s) gg-grandfather was in about 10 hours.
Several focused hours is enough to make real progress with DNA results when the right matches are in place. In that time I can review your close matches, confirm which side of the family they belong to, begin clustering them into groups that share common ancestors, and identify the most promising leads.
If your case needs more work, we can continue in additional time blocks, but the first two hours are designed to give you solid, actionable insight right away.
Q. What do I need to provide you?
You’ll share your Ancestry DNA with me (linking me as a COLLABORATOR).
Depending on your goals you can either share your Ancestry with me, or I can create a new tree for my research and then you’ll copy the pertinent information over to your tree later. If you share your Ancestry tree with me then you will link me as EDITOR (and give me access to see living people).
The permissions can be revoked on your DNA and tree easily when we’re done working together.
Q. What tools/subscriptions do you have?
I have Ancestry Pro/All Access with Newspapers.com and Fold3.com memberships, Genealogy Bank, My Heritage, and GEDMatch. I also use AI tools extensively for report writing, research and analysis.
Q. What do I walk away with at the end of our contract?
You’ll have access to your tree and your DNA, with the research/notes/labels in it. You can (or I can) remove my access to it at that time. Additionally I will submit a short report of any findings of interest, and a summary of what your research goals were and associated work. For example the report might include, where more research is needed, or interesting findings.