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SERVICES:
Research
Photography
Printed Trees
House History
Military Personnel
Wills
Civil Registration
Census Returns
Voting in England & Register of Electors"

Research in other countries:
Australia
Canada
France
Germany
Holland
Ireland
Italy
New Zealand
S & Central America
Tel/Fax: 0844 586 3610    International: + 44 844 586 3610
Tel (mobile): 07721679104
"Field View",   Silver Street,  Minting,  Horncastle,  Lincolnshire. LN9 5RP England



Members of The Association of Professional Genealogists

Sovereign Ancestry, based in rural Lincolnshire, have researchers working throughout the UK and are able to offer a comprehensive and professional service to anyone with an interest in their family history, the history of their property or area.

We have researchers based in virtually all the counties of England and also in Scotland, Wales, Ireland (North & South), The Isle of Man and The Channel Isles.

           

We also have associates in Holland, USA, Canada and Australia along with a number of contacts in other countries (details upon request). This means that we can offer a completely comprehensive "one stop" service to all our clients.

Financial Policies.

1. We accept payment by a variety of means including:

(a) Personal cheque (UK clients ).
(b) Online & Telephone banking (UK clients only).
(c) PayPal online payment (all clients)
(d) By phone or in writing - we will shortly be able to accept real time payments by phone or in writing using PayPal Virtual Terminal. Please see important note on client data security below.
(e) Cash - never.

2. We never retain or store any financial information supplied by clients. We never share financial information with third parties. This includes credit/debit card information. Once a transaction has been completed all card data is either deleted or shredded. We do not encourage clients to submit card details by email but where this is unavoidable we insist that details are sent via multiple email to enhance security. We advise accordingly where appropriate.


3. Refunds:

Where refunds are agreed we can only provide them via the means original payment was made. This means that if you pay by PayPal or by card via PayPal Virtual Terminal this is the way in which you will be refunded. In the case of PayPal Virtual Terminal we will require the full card information again at the time of refund. When the refund is completed we will destroy all the details.

4. Client information and Data.

We are registered under the terms of the Data Protection Act 1998.

We never share information with third parties unless we have previously secured written permission to do so. We never sell client information on to third parties. All material gathered during the course of research (including material submitted by the client at the start and during the course of the research) is stored securely within password protected pc systems and external hard drives. All printed material is stored in our secure archive indefinitely unless we are instructed to forward it to the client or destroy it upon completion of the research.

Our preferred method of payment is by PayPal.

We are also able to accept Sterling Money Order or Electronic Transfer. Due to high bank processing cost we are unable to accept Dollar Cheques.

A note on research fees.

Most research fees are based on an hourly rate for the time taken by our researchers to review existing material, assess what research is necessary and from there begin to search various sources available to them.

These sources include:

1. Primary sources such as parish records and other material held in County Archives and Local Studies Libraries and The National Archives at Kew. These are actual primary records.

2. Secondary sources such Archive held indices, online sites and CD held databases. These sources may also include family history websites and websites of other commercial research organisations and private individuals. As such this material, if found to be potentially relevant, will be gathered and reported to the client on the basis that it has not been checked for authenticity or validity. On that basis clients will be advised as to whether or not further research is required in order to corroborate or validate the data found.

3. Specialist third party archives. Where appropriate we sometimes access privately held databases of material held by persons or organisations who charge for searches to be made on our behalf. Sometimes these results will also require follow up within primary sources. Again you will be advised accordingly.

Virtually all information sources is available in the public domain.

It is important to note that we make no charge for the actual material found when we submit our research results to you. We charge only for the time taken to search for, locate, access and where appropriate copy material.

A further important note (updated March 2008) in the course of (2) above our researchers have previously on occasion and where deemed appropriate accessed public websites such as friendsreunited and genesreunited amongst others where information can be exchanged with others researching the same, related or similar lines. Whilst we have charged in the past for the time taken to access and corroborate such data as might usefully be found we have not charged for the actual material exchanged. However, after a review of best practice and in consultation with various professional colleagues, we have now taken the decision not to make use of such sites in the future. This obviously has no bearing on clients accessing such sites themselves personally. If you require further information or clarification on this matter please contact us.

Finally, other services and fees/expenses are agreed on a case by case basis.

Hourly rates:
Once we have fully reviewed a case we normally quote fees based on a fixed hourly rate. This varies depending on where the research has to be conducted and the type of research involved.
The hourly rate includes research time at the appropriate archives and the production of a report either by post or by email. In some instances where a case is particularly large or complex we charge for reporting time at a reduced "office" rate. We advise of this in advance.

Travel Expenses:
For the majority of research locations we do not charge travel expenses but there are exceptions and they will be advised at the outset where appropriate.

Other costs:
All other cost for photocopying of documents, postage, telephone calls, etc. are charged in addition to the hourly rate.
In the event that we have to access material or data held privately and which is accessible upon payment of a fee to the custodians we will advise of this before proceeding with a request so that clients are fully aware of any potential costs before committing.
Where location photography is requested we provide a detailed estimate of the costs involved in advance and then, once approved, request a 50% deposit with the balance upon completion.
Once a client has decided to proceed with research of any kind we then agree a strategy and, more importantly, a budgeting schedule to suit their own particular needs and circumstances. Unlike some other companies we do not ask for large deposits in advance.

Turnaround:
Time taken to complete research obviously varies hugely depending on the time of year and where the particular documents we need to access are held. However, we normally aim to report back to clients within 2 to 3 weeks of receiving their confirmed instructions (although this is strictly for guidance only, sometimes it's longer, sometimes it's speedier!).
Please do be aware that where research is required in Continental Europe we are at the mercy of many circumstances outside our immediate control and that turnaround times are more realistically in the 3 - 6 month time frame and often longer.

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