Real Life Genealogy
Imagine their real lives.
Real Life Genealogy is a family history practice built around a simple conviction: the most powerful thing about family history isn’t the names and dates — it’s the lives behind them.
Family history is brimming with vast experiences. Ideally, what is gained from those experiences are lessons, perspectives and in the best cases - stories. If those stories are viewed in a small and limited frame, the meaning we can take from them is limited too.
We know that real life is anything but small. The lives our ancestors lived were as vibrant and real as our own. The aim of Real Life Genealogy is to help you understand, interpret and imagine your family’s past - their real lives- in the way they would have experienced it.
Document Discovery
Starting at $75
Meet your family through the documents that recorded their lives
Research & Review
Starting at $250
A research partner and support person to help you understand, interpret and summarize your family history
Chapter
Starting at $400
Tell a chapter of your family history story - including the people and the context as they may have seen it
Document Discovery
Meet your family through the documents that recorded their lives.
A simple, meaningful introduction to family history. You provide the name of an ancestor—or two—and I locate key records connected to their life. You’ll receive copies of the records along with a clear explanation of what they reveal, what they don’t, and where the evidence might lead next.
This may be right for you if:
You are curious about your family history but aren’t ready for a larger project.
You have heard family stories but have never seen the records behind them.
You would like a meaningful, personal gift for someone in your family.
You want to see what information may be available about a particular ancestor.
What’s included:
Research focused on one or two agreed-upon ancestors
Copies of the records located
Plain-language explanations of what each record tells us
Full source information
A brief note about possible next steps, where relevant
An organized digital PDF package
Records might include census entries, birth, marriage or death registrations, immigration records, passenger lists, cemetery records, directories, land records, maps or other historical sources. Availability depends on the person, place and time period.
Starting at $75 CAD
The scope and price will be confirmed before research begins. Printed copies and additional research may be available at an extra cost.
Research & Review
You’ve done some research and made some discoveries. Now let’s make sense of what you have, find out what else your documents can tell you, and figure out where to go next.
This is collaborative support for people who have already begun researching their family history. I review your existing tree, documents, notes and questions, then help you identify inconsistencies, understand confusing records, work through research obstacles and develop a practical path forward.
You remain in control of your research. My role is to bring a knowledgeable second set of eyes and additional research resources to help you go further than you could alone.
This may be right for you if:
You have hit a brick wall in your research.
Your family tree contains conflicting information.
You have accumulated records or notes but aren’t sure what they mean.
You want an experienced review before continuing.
You are using one or more of the family history platforms, and aren’t sure what to do next.
What’s included:
A short intake and advance review of your materials
Review of your existing documents, tree, notes and questions
Identification of gaps, inconsistencies and possible next steps
A live one-on-one working session
Help interpreting confusing or conflicting records
Relevant historical and social context
A written summary of findings and prioritized next steps
A follow-up conversation where appropriate
Starting at $250 CAD
The final scope and price depend on the amount and complexity of the material. We will agree on what I am reviewing and what you want to accomplish before work begins.
Chapter
One subject. One time period. One story… told with the depth and context it deserves.
A Chapter transforms family history research into a meaningful, readable story about one ancestor, couple, family group, migration or period in time.
This is more than a list of facts and dates. The research is grounded in evidence and enriched with historical and social context: what was happening in that place and time, what life may have looked like, what the records reveal—and where the evidence becomes silent.
This may be right for you if:
You want to understand a particular ancestor or family experience more deeply.
You have research that you would like transformed into something readable and shareable.
You want a meaningful gift for a parent, grandparent or family member.
You would like to preserve one part of your family history for future generations.
What’s included:
Research focused on one clearly agreed-upon subject
A carefully written, evidence-based family history narrative
Historical and social context
Source citations and copies of key records
Thoughtful inclusion of people who are often overlooked in family histories
A professionally formatted digital PDF
A note about gaps, unanswered questions and possible next steps
Starting at $400 CAD
Each Chapter is individually scoped. The final cost depends on the subject, available records, amount of research required and intended length. Scope and price will be agreed in writing before work begins.
Tell me what you’re looking for
Every family-history or ancestor story is a little different. Tell me briefly what you’re hoping to learn, understand or create. You don’t need to know which service fits right now. We can determine that together a little later.
We’ll start with a free, no-obligation chat about your ideas, needs, and how I may be able to help bring your family story to life.
I look forward to hearing from you!
Your information will be used only to review and respond to your inquiry. Please don’t include confidential documents, account information or sensitive details about living people. Real Life Genealogy focuses on historical family-history research and does not offer searches for living relatives or other people-finding services. If we work together, I’ll provide a secure way to share detailed information and files.