THE FAMILY DETECTIVE
EVERY FAMILY HAS A STORY.WE FIND IT.
Behind every name is a life. Behind every record is a story. And behind every family is a past waiting to be discovered.
MORE THAN NAMES AND DATES
Family history is more than building a list of names on a family tree.
It is discovering where your family lived, what they experienced, how they survived, who they loved, where they worked, the communities they helped build, and the journeys that eventually led to you.
Sometimes all we begin with is a name, an old photograph, a story passed down through the family, a DNA match, or a question that no one has been able to answer.
That's where The Family Detective begins.
WHY FAMILY HISTORY MATTERS
Knowing where we come from can change the way we understand who we are.
Family research can reconnect generations, preserve stories before they disappear, uncover forgotten relatives, identify places connected to our ancestors, and give future generations something meaningful to inherit.
Records sitting in courthouses, archives, churches, newspapers, cemeteries and historical databases can contain pieces of a family's story that may have been forgotten for decades—or even centuries.
We believe those stories are worth finding.
WE FOLLOW THE CLUES
The Family Detective approaches genealogy like an investigation.
You give us what you know. We follow the clues.
Depending on the case, our researchers may examine:
- census records
- birth and death records
- marriage records
- newspapers
- obituaries
- military records
- deeds
- wills and probate files
- court records
- church records
- cemetery records
- historical archives
- family trees
- DNA genealogy clues
- other available sources
We compare records, examine relationships and document the evidence we find.
We also distinguish between what the evidence proves, what it suggests, and what remains unknown.
REAL RESEARCH. REAL EVIDENCE.
Genealogy does not always produce an immediate answer.
Some records have disappeared. Some were never created. Names can be misspelled. Ages can change from one record to another. Family stories can contain both truth and legend.
That is why The Family Detective does not simply search for a name and assume the first matching record belongs to your family.
We investigate.
Our goal is to build conclusions from evidence and clearly identify possible connections when additional proof is still needed.
YOUR FAMILY. YOUR CASE.
Every investigation receives its own Family Detective case file.
Clients can follow their investigation through My Cases, where approved discoveries, records and eventually the final case findings can be released as the investigation progresses.
Behind the scenes, researchers document sources, evidence and possible connections while the case is being investigated.
FROM THE UNITED STATES TO THE WORLD
Researching families across the United States and beyond.
Family stories do not stop at state lines or national borders.
The Family Detective accepts U.S. and international genealogy investigations based on record availability and researcher expertise.
Our growing researcher network allows cases to be matched with people who have experience with particular locations, historical periods, record types and genealogy specialties.
PRESERVE THE STORY
One day, the names and stories we know today may depend on someone taking the time to preserve them.
Your investigation isn't only about discovering the people who came before you.
It's also about leaving their story for the people who come after you.