1. Translation and Transcription of the Old German Script.

I charge AUD$25.00 per hour. I am happy to translate small documents for you, pro-rata. You can mail me photocopies, or email me scans of all documents. I will first transcribe all documents, and then translate them into English. The research results will be sent to you by email.

2. Genealogy and German Parish Registers on Microfilm.

Microfilms of German Parish registers can no longer be ordered from Salt Lake City, Utah, as they are in the process of being digitised. But many can now be viewed at a local LDS Family History Center on their computers.
You will receive digital photos of your ancestor's birth, marriage and burial entries found in the parish register, transcribed and translated, as well as a custom family tree. All results will be sent to you by email. In addition, I can write to German archives and civil registration offices on your behalf. I will, of course, also be consulting various German websites for genealogical and historical information.

I charge AUD$25.00 per hour. It would be helpful to give me the type of information which is recorded in a pedigree chart (leaving out your personal details). Also as much information as possible about your ancestor's occupation, the names of their siblings, and whether they were Catholic or Lutheran.   A deposit of AUD$100.00 is required for research to begin. Please contact me for a free consultation.

3. Research Assistance: Stuck with your German Research and don't know what to do next?

I am happy to review your research and make suggestions. AUD$25.00 per hour.

 

Options

AUD $25.00AUD $100.00

Frequently Asked Questions:

How far back can my German ancestors be traced?

Civil registration of births, marriages and deaths was introduced for all of Germany in January 1876. Some German States had already introduced civil registration, some as early as 1792.
To go back earlier in time, parish registers have to be consulted. The oldest ones to survive go back to 1524, and realistically, you can expect to trace your ancestors to around 1650, if the parish registers are still there.

The older ones vary in quality: from almost completely black pages where the ink has run, to perfectly preserved pages with beautifully legible handwriting. Some parish registers have been extracted and their information appears on the IGI (International Genealogical Index), now Family Search. This is helpful for finding clues about your ancestors, but the original parish register should be consulted for the complete christening or marriage entry, and for verification.  For genealogists, parish registers are very valuable. If your ancestors lived for generations in one place and attended to same church, it is often cheaper to look at the parish register than purchase various birth, marriage and death certificates.

What information is available about my ancestors?

As a general rule, the more recent the ancestor, the more information there is. The German parish registers give a lot of information, and more than an English parish register of the same vintage. For people living around 1800, you can usually  find out the dates of birth and christening, names and residence of the parents, occupation of father, date of marriage, date of death and burial, names and residence of the godparents, and the mother's maiden name and where she was born.

Can you give me a quote?

For old handwriting, it is hard to say in advance exactly how long it will take to decipher it. If your ancestor had a good and legible hand, the translation can be done quickly.

For ancestry research, it is difficult to predict how long research will take, as every family is different.  Unfortunately, this is the nature of genealogical research. I prefer to undertake research in stages.  It is best to agree on a set amount in advance, and once that limit has been reached, the research can be evaluated to see what further steps might be taken. At the beginning of every project, I will make sure that there are enough records, but if we unexpectedly come to a dead end, then I will gladly refund a portion of the fee. You will only be charged for my actual time spent.

You live in Australia - how can you help me if you are not living in Germany?

As mentioned already,  I have been researching my German ancestors for 35 years, mostly via the LDS Family History Centers' wonderful microfilm collection. I have a lot of experience in reading the Old German Script, and can often decipher more than those of my mother's generation who were the last to be taught at school how to write it.
You are getting the benefit of my expertise and experience, and I look forward to helping you.