If you would love to know more about your family history I can help you. I have worked for many years as a professional genealogist with the Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies in Canterbury, England and my professional qualifications include a Diploma in Family History (IHGS). I am currently a tutor and mentor with the Institute, helping students who are studying for the Higher Certificate and Diploma in Genealogy. I am also proud to be a member of the Register of Qualified Genealogists, so you can be assured that my work is of the highest professional standard.

Free Consultation

Before you commit to anything, I offer a free 20 minute consultation so I can understand your research priorities. This can be via Zoom, FaceTime or by phone. To arrange your no obligation free consultation, please use the Contact Me form.

Research Process

Genealogical information can be found online, where records have been digitised, and in various archives across the U.K. and indeed the world. I specialise in English research but have experience of tracing clients’ ancestry all over the British Isles and further afield. Based in Kent, the Garden of England, I can personally visit the county archives in Maidstone.

In addition to the professional quality of my research, I love to incorporate relevant local and social history in my reports to give you a real insight into the life and times of your ancestors. Sources used may include birth, marriage and death certificates, census records, newspaper records, parish registers and probate records to name just a few.

If you would like to go ahead and commission some research, please provide me with the fullest information that you have on the family lines you wish to trace. Names, dates, places and occupations are the building blocks of genealogical research and family stories can also contain useful hints. I will then send you a brief proposal, which outlines the research project that has been agreed upon, and a projected start date. All information should be sent by email when the initial 50% deposit is made.

Bespoke Projects

My aim is to tailor the research to meet your needs. Perhaps you have a brick wall that you want to crack, need help with your DNA research or with a document that you can’t read. I can also offer assistance if you are seeking to find family members in the present day. For these sort of projects, I offer bespoke research by the hour with a minimum commission and deposit of £100. This can be extended in two hour blocks and I can give you a quote when we have our consultation. A report of the research will be sent to you as a PDF.

Research Packages

If you want to explore different lines of your ancestry, with the aim of tracing them back into the 1800s and beyond, I offer three different research packages. The one that suits you will depend on your research needs and budget. Note that a 10% and 20% discount is offered for the Beech and Sycamore packages, respectively. All packages can be tailored to meet your personal requirements. The cost is mainly determined by the time taken for research and writing, though fixed costs may also be incurred. Some families are relatively straightforward to trace and as a result, information will be found more readily. Alternatively, illegitimacy, common surnames, mobility and missing records can all present challenges. A copy of my report, plus documentation, will be emailed to you as a PDF but there is also the option of presenting the final report in an attractive loose-leaf binder if this is of interest. Gift certificates can also be purchased. All options can be discussed during the consultation.

Oak Package

Beech Package 10% Discount

Sycamore Package 20% Discount

Writing Services

If you have already completed some research but would like to have it written up, perhaps as a gift for a family member, I offer a writing service. My aim will be to breathe life into your ancestors and put them into the context of the world in which they lived. In the consultation we can discuss your requirements.

Personal Tuition

If you would like help with your research or have a brick wall to overcome, I can offer personal tuition, mentoring and coaching. In the consultation we can discuss your requirements.

© Judith Batchelor 2025