$99 Beginner Genealogy Project
If you have not researched your family before—or you only know the basics—this is a straightforward place to start.
For a flat $99, I take what you already know (even if that is just a grandparent’s name and an approximate place or year) and build a clear, documented starting point for your family history. You get a visual tree chart, a written summary of what turned up, and copies of the supporting records I used.
I work with clients across the country. When a line runs through Brooklyn or New York City, that local record depth—borough vitals, city directories, newspapers, cemeteries, and related archives—is an edge I bring to the work. Plenty of projects stay entirely outside New York; the goal is always the same: useful research, honestly presented.
Every family leaves a different paper trail. No specific record type is guaranteed, and not every family line can be pushed as far as another in a beginner project. What you do get is focused research time, transparent results, and a solid foundation you can keep building on.
What’s included
- Focused beginner research on one primary family line (or a clearly defined starting ancestor), based on the details you send
- A visual family tree chart you can see and share
- A written summary of what was found—and what remains open or uncertain
- Supporting documents from the records that actually helped (for example: census entries, vital-event evidence, immigration or military papers, directories, obituaries, or burial information—when available for your case)
- Source notes so you know where each fact came from
- Honest next-step notes if a brick wall or a larger research goal appears
I aim, when the records allow, to push at least one line toward the Civil War era or toward immigration—whichever fits your family. That is a goal, not a promise for every $99 project.
What’s not included
Clarity matters as much as findings.
- Not a guarantee of birth, marriage, death, military, immigration, or any other single record type
- Not a full multi-line tree covering every branch of the family
- Not unlimited research hours—this is a defined beginner project at a flat fee
- Not DNA lab testing or managed DNA match outreach (I can help you interpret how DNA results fit a paper trail in a larger project if that is your goal)
- Not legal advice, citizenship documentation packages, or heir-hunting for probate
- Not a promise that every rumor or family story can be confirmed
If you already have a thick file and are stuck on one hard problem, the beginner project may not be the right fit—see brick-wall options below.
Who it’s for
This project is a good fit if you:
- Have never hired a genealogist and want a low-commitment start
- Know a few names and places (or only one solid starting person) and want them researched properly
- Want organized results—chart, summary, documents—not a dump of unverified hints
- Live anywhere in the U.S. (or abroad) and need someone who can work national records, with extra strength when Brooklyn/NYC appears in the story
- Prefer plain English over sales language and mystery “breakthrough” claims
It may not be the best first step if you need an exhaustive multi-surname study, adoption/NPE work with heavy DNA coordination, or a known brick wall that already has dozens of hours of prior research. Those are better as scoped follow-on projects.
How it works
- Contact me through the form and choose “Start a beginner project — $99 flat fee.”
https://brooklynancestry.com/contact/ - Send what you know. A grandparent’s name plus an approximate birth/death date or place is often enough to begin. Maiden names, siblings, spouses, addresses, military clues, and family stories all help—more detail means less time spent re-finding the people you already know.
- I research the line with the available records that fit your case, citing sources as I go.
- You receive your tree chart, written summary, and supporting documents, plus notes on what is solid vs. still open.
- If you want to go further—another line, a stuck ancestor, immigration origin, military deep-dive—we talk about a brick-wall or larger project after you’ve seen the beginner results.
Deliverables
When the beginner project is complete, you typically receive:
| Deliverable | What it is |
|---|---|
| Family tree chart | A clear visual of the line researched |
| Research summary | Plain-language write-up of findings, gaps, and confidence |
| Supporting records | Copies or extracts of documents used (as available) |
| Source information | Enough detail to know where facts came from |
| Optional next steps | Suggestions only if further work looks worthwhile |
Records vary by family. The mix above is the package format; the exact documents inside depend on what exists and what is relevant.
After the beginner project
Many people stop here with a usable starter tree. Others discover a specific puzzle worth chasing.
Brick-wall and larger projects are available after—for a stuck ancestor, a rumor you want tested, immigration origin, military service, cemetery/vitals chasing, or building out additional branches. On the contact form, choose the brick-wall / specific-goal option when that is what you need, or start with the $99 project and decide once you have the first report in hand.
I will give you an honest read on what is realistically findable before you spend more.
Ready to start?
If you want a practical, documented beginning to your family history—not hype—use the contact form and select the $99 beginner project.
Tell me the ancestor or starting person you care about most, what you already know, and what you hope to learn. I will take it from there.
Brooklyn Ancestry — genealogy research for nationwide clients, with deep experience in Brooklyn and New York City records when your family story leads there.