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The last port of call if you really cannot overcome a research problem should be to turn to the professionals. It might also be worth paying somebody to research specific documents in an archive that is far away from where you live if it works out to be more costly to travel there yourself. There are many professional genealogists with years of experience working in archives who provide their services at a charge. Because very few archives offer their own research service, most will have a list of private researchers who have a thorough knowledge of their records. The National Archives has a list of independent researchers on its website where you can browse each person’s area of expertise and find contact details.

When approaching a professional researcher for a quote, you should always try to be as clear as possible about what you know already, what is fact and what is hearsay, and what you are hoping they will find out for you. It is better that you give too much information rather than too little to ensure they do not cover work you have already done yourself. However, you do not need to give them your entire family tree if you are only asking them to help you with one branch, especially as some researchers will charge you for the time it costs them to read through all your notes.