How Genealogical Research Works
HOW IT WORKS
How Genealogical Research Works
Not a list of names, but a historical study.
Sources, methods, and verification for reconstructing individuals, families, and connections across generations.
An investigation, not a compilation.
Genealogical research is not simply a matter of collecting names and dates to fill out a family tree. It involves reconstructing the lives of individuals, families, and their connections through the traces they left in historical records: civil registry records, parish registers, notarial documents, land registers, military conscription lists, emigration records, and other historical sources. Every piece of information is analyzed, compared, and, whenever possible, verified using multiple sources.
Because behind every document there is not just a name:there is a person, a family, a story.
THE METHOD
Every research project follows a verification process.
Genealogical research requires a systematic approach, cross-referencing, and careful attention to sources. For this reason, the work follows the principles of the Genealogical Proof Standard, adapting them to the specific characteristics of each research project and the available sources.
GENEALOGICAL PROOF STANDARD
Research, compare, verify.
The work involves researching available sources, analyzing them, and comparing different documents. The information is evaluated within its context, and any contradictions are examined in depth before a conclusion is drawn.
- search for available sources;
- citation of the documents consulted;
- check for any contradictions;
- comparison of information;
- documented conclusions.
FAN / CLUSTER SEARCH
A method for tracing the people associated with the ancestor.
When primary sources are insufficient, research can be expanded to include the people who were part of the ancestor’s social circle:family members, friends, neighbors, and acquaintances. These connections can help distinguish between people with the same name, confirm an identity, and reconstruct family relationships that are not immediately apparent from the documents.
Research is not about finding the first possible connection, but about establishing a link that the sources support.
From the first clue to the documented reconstruction.
Every research project follows a specific process, but is tailored to the unique characteristics of each family. From the initial information gathering to the final report, each step serves to transform the initial clues into a documented story.
LISTENING AND ANALYSIS
Let's start with what you already know.
Names, dates, places, photographs, documents, and family stories serve as the starting point. I analyze the available information, and together we decide what to look for.
RESEARCH PLAN
I evaluate the available sources, the archives to be consulted, and the practical feasibility of the research. During this phase, the objectives, timeline, and methodology of the work are defined.
RESEARCH AND VERIFICATION
Let's follow the clues left in the archives.
Cross-referencing documents, records, and historical sources, verifying information, and connecting people, places, and generations.
REFUND
Research becomes a documented story.
I collect and organize the research findings and deliver them in the agreed-upon format, including genealogical records, transcriptions, copies of documents, and other materials.
Once the work is complete, the results are organized and presented in a clear and well-documented format, tailored to the type of research conducted and what you wish to preserve of your family history.
PRINTED TREE
The family tree takes shape as a chart that you can keep, frame, or give as a gift.
THE FAMILY'S HISTORY
The results of the research become a story that connects people, places, documents, and generations.
TREE AND DIGITAL HISTORY
A digital file organized to store genealogical records and research materials.
THE FAMILY BOOK
A comprehensive project that brings together genealogy, photographs, documents, and stories in a personalized volume.
We'll work together to determine what to include in the return, based on the research we've done and what you'd like to keep.
Why a Professional?
When a search requires more than just online information.
Presumed Family Ties
Coincidences involving names, places, or time periods are not enough to prove a connection. Two people with the same last name who were born in the same town are not necessarily the same person.
Loss of historical context
A document read out of context can tell only part of the story. Laws, borders, epidemics, migrations, and social changes help us understand its meaning.
Online sources only
Databases and online resources are an excellent starting point, but they do not cover all available sources. Many documents and archival collections still require on-site research at archives, parishes, and institutions.
Do you have a story you'd like to rediscover?
Do you already have a name, a date, a photograph, or a family memory? That’s enough to get started. Tell me what you know and what clues you already have. Together, we can figure out where to begin and which approach might be best for your research.
