Your Questions Answered 

Absolutely! We believe that even the most ordinary lives can be full of fascinating details and connections. By exploring historical records, documents, and personal stories, we uncover the hidden gems in your family’s past. No matter how humble or extraordinary your ancestors’ lives may have been, every family has a story - and it’s our job to help you discover it. 

Storytelling is at the heart of everything we do. Behind every name is a life lived, and behind every fact are events that shaped the world around them. Even with our smallest Tree Only package, you’ll receive 8-12 digital records featuring your ancestors, along with details like their occupations in the tree - giving you far more than dry names and dates. 

There’s almost always enough material for a captivating story, but in rare cases, a family might not have left behind many records—or at least not the kind that made a splash! If we’re not finding enough for the package you’ve selected, we’ll let you know and suggest downgrading your package. If this leaves you on the Tree Only package, we’ll provide you with a complimentary pack of primary sources about your ancestor(s) for you to peruse instead. 

Genealogy can be time-consuming and tricky. It’s easy to make mistakes when conducting research on your own, and many people don’t have the confidence in their findings. Professional researchers, however, know how to navigate archives and databases, ensuring accuracy and uncovering information and details that you may not have found. Furthermore, while many of the records we use to create the backbone of your family tree are found on subscription databases, professionals know how to access the multitude of records that can also be found in archives. With our expertise, you’ll save time and gain access to a wealth of resources and knowledge, so you can enjoy a more reliable and thorough family history. 

The ability to trace your family tree further back depends largely on the availability of records in the areas your ancestors lived. If you’d like to explore earlier generations, you can opt for our highest package, and if we’re unable to trace your family before around 1800, we’ll let you know and adjust the package accordingly so you’re not paying for research that can’t be done. Remember, the further back we go, the more your tree will grow, doubling in size with each additional generation. 

Our expertise primarily focuses on England, Scotland, and Wales. If some of your ancestors came from Ireland or Northern Ireland, we may still be able to trace their history, though the availability of records can vary. If you think a significant portion of your heritage might come from across the Irish Sea, feel free to select the highest package you’d prefer, and we’ll drop you down a package if there aren’t enough records available. 

Genealogical research can be time-consuming, as it often involves waiting for records to arrive by post or be photographed before we can continue with the next steps. While we aim to be efficient, the process is often stop-and-start, depending on the availability and delivery of the necessary documents. Rest assured, we’ll have your package with you within the agreed timeframe, or even earlier if research permits. 

We begin with the backbone of British genealogy records—census records and birth, marriage, and death records—to build a strong foundation for your family tree. Then, we'll begin to add meat to the bones. After all, let’s face it, a tree with just names and dates doesn’t give you a feel for the real people they were or the lives they experienced. We’ll dig into local or national newspapers, looking for your ancestors mentioned in personal stories, announcements, or local events. We also examine occupational records, trade directories, and registers such as workhouse or asylum records to add depth to their lives. Then, to bring your family history to life, we’ll incorporate maps and old photographs, helping you visualise the world they once knew. 

As we build your family tree, we'll keep a keen eye out for anything that gives us a true sense of who your ancestor was and what their life was like. Perhaps they were accused of a crime, or the victim of a tragedy. Maybe they were a bit of a character, or involved in something exciting or unusual. Their life could have taken a dramatic turn, from rags to riches, or riches to rags. They may have done something to be proud of, or perhaps something they’d rather forget. Whatever the story, we’ll curate the records that tell their tale, giving you the opportunity to explore and experience their life in the comfort of your own home. 

Our ancestors went through many difficult and upsetting experiences, and part of genealogy is understanding how these events shaped us. While we can’t sanitise history, we are mindful of the impact certain stories may have. If there are specific events, such as suicide, loss of children, or domestic abuse, that may be particularly triggering for you, we can choose not to feature those in your AnceSTORY. There’s space for you to let us know your preferences when placing your order, ensuring we handle your family history with the care it deserves. 

Absolutely! Our Tree Only, Classic, and Ultimate packages can all be shared, making them the perfect gift for that couple (or even that family) who seems to have everything. (We wouldn’t recommend sharing the Essentials package between two people, simply because only one person would receive a story). 

After checkout, simply add the details for both individuals on the {PAGE NAME. Please keep in mind that, as we are effectively researching two family trees in one, it may limit how far back we can trace each tree compared to a single-person research package. 

We won’t know exactly how many stories we’ll uncover in your family tree until we’re deep into the research. As a general rule, the further back we trace, the more stories tend to emerge. That’s why our packages are designed to include more stories as we explore additional generations. 

If you’d like us to explore as much as possible, choose a package based on your budget -if we can’t achieve everything included, we’ll adjust your package and refund accordingly. 

Prefer to start small? The other option is to book a Tree Only package, and ask us for an idea of the amount of stories possible. Once we’ve completed the tree research, we’ll send you an update on whether there are further branches to discover and an idea on the number of stories available. That way, you can upgrade by simply paying the difference, and stay in control of how much we uncover. 

We take great care in presenting your family history in a way that’s clear, engaging, and easy to follow. We’re the experts, so you don’t have to be. You won’t just receive a jumble of records and charts - we’ll craft a narrative that makes sense, connects the dots, and brings your ancestors’ stories to life. 

In genealogy, hitting a roadblock, or “brick wall,” is common - even professionals face these challenges. Whether it’s a missing record, conflicting data, or an ancestor who went to great lengths to hide their identity, we have the expertise to work around or break through these obstacles. We’ll use strategies that hobbyists may not have, and if we can’t trace one ancestor further, there are always plenty of other branches to explore. 

It’s not often that we hit a dead end with relatives close to you, like parents or grandparents. Usually, we can find additional information by ordering non-digitised records, like a marriage certificate. If we do encounter a significant roadblock early on, we’ll let you know and make decisions together about how to proceed. 

Our service is all about offering a personalised, expert approach that goes beyond simply gathering facts. We craft meaningful, engaging stories based on deep research, creating not just a family tree, but a legacy you can treasure. With every package, we deliver beautifully presented findings, whether through a digital report or heirloom-quality keepsakes, making your family history something you can cherish with future generations, for generations to come. 

It’s helpful to start with as much information as you know, as this means we can get straight to uncovering the details you don’t. But don’t worry if you know very little - we can work with minimal details, and will order the official certificates and records needed to fill in the gaps. Just share what you know, and we’ll take care of the rest. 

We don’t typically research living individuals for privacy and ethical reasons. Genealogy is all about uncovering the stories of those who have come before us, and much of the information we work with is in public records that only relate to those who’ve passed away. 

That said, we do use the information you provide about your living family members to complete your family tree. This helps us ensure the accuracy of your lineage, while respecting privacy. 

While we can’t guarantee we’ll research a particular topic for a story, we’d love to help where we can, and we’re always excited to hear about any family legends or rumours. These can help guide us in exploring certain avenues. Simply share these details in the {name of text box} when placing your order. 

Absolutely! If research is still in progress, we can upgrade your package, and you’ll only pay the difference. If you’ve already received your order and have a thirst for more, we just need to assess what we’ve already found, and what it’s possible to discover next. Please email us at hello@yourancestory.co.uk, and we’ll get this arranged for you.