Expert Connect

 

How it Works

  • Overview
  • Record Pickup
  • Local Photo
  • Ask an Expert
  • Record Lookup
  • Custom Research
How it Works

You're not alone.

When you consider that you have hundreds of ancestors stretching thousands of years into the past, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by family history. But thanks to Ancestry.com Expert Connect, you now have hundreds of genealogy professionals on your side. These experts can fill in missing leaves on even the most complex family tree, helping you know exactly how you fit into the picture of history.

Simply click the tabs above to explore the five services available through Expert Connect. You can choose whom to hire and how to pay (via credit card or PayPal), and you can trust that all transactions take place in a safe, secure environment. Best of all, before any funds are released to the expert you’ve hired, you’ll have the opportunity to verify that the project meets the terms you both agreed to.

Start a Project
"Great-grandpa owned a farm near Lancaster, Pennsylvania. I wish I had a copy of the deed."
Sound familiar?
Start a Project

Record Pickup

Get the record you need.

Hundreds of researchers have access...
What do you do when you need a copy of your grandmother's birth certificate, but it's sitting in a county courthouse 400 miles away? What if you're looking for your great-uncle's college diploma, which resides in an archive on the other side of the country? Thanks to Expert Connect, you can now hire a local researcher to visit the site, retrieve the record and mail a copy to you. The Record Pickup service is both easy and inexpensive, and it's a great way to establish ties with researchers who live near your ancestors' former hometowns.

How it works
Each expert sets his or her own rates. Once you’ve pinpointed a specific record and its exact location, browse available profiles for a researcher who serves that particular area at a price you can afford.

"I know where my great-grandfather was buried, but I live too far away to visit and take a picture."
Sound familiar?
Start a Project

Local Photo

Get photos of faraway places.

Hundreds of researchers (and their cameras) are ready to help.
Whether you need a photo of the church where your grandparents were married or a picture of the street signs that marked your father's childhood home, now you can get your image without ever leaving your house. Expert Connect's Local Photo service makes it easy to delegate your photo errand to a researcher who lives in the area. Skip the cross-country trip, and devote the time and money you've saved to sections of your family history that only you can research.

How it works
Each expert sets his or her own rates. Once you’ve determined the exact address of your photo opportunity, browse available profiles for a researcher who serves that particular area at a price you can afford.

"I can only find my family in census records. Where can I look to fill in the rest of the story?"
Sound familiar?
Start a Project

Ask an Expert

Get answers to your questions.

Family history professionals can advise you...
There are times when you'd like to complete the research on your own, but you need a few questions answered before you can get going in the right direction. Perhaps you'd enjoy discovering the history of your property, but you don't know what steps to take. Or you may be interested in telling your children what percentage of their DNA is Irish, Native American, Welsh and Norwegian, but you're not sure how to calculate it. Just post your question on Expert Connect and list the price you're willing to pay, then choose the best answer.

How it works
When you post your question, you also get to decide what a response is worth to you. Invite specific experts to answer if you wish or simply wait to see how many replies you receive.

"We think grandma naturalized as a U.S. citizen, but we're not sure. Can you find us some paperwork that supports our theory?"
Sound familiar?
Start a Project

Record Lookup

Get help proving a hunch.

Family history professionals can pinpoint...
When you're searching for a document to verify a family story, but you don't know what record you need or where it's located, look no further than Record Lookup. With this easy-to-use service, professionals will track down hard to find records and retrieve copies of supporting documents. Whether your answer is found in World War II immigration papers or a Civil War pension file, professionals are on the job.

How it works
Simply post your research project online and request bids from the experts. Then browse your results and choose the professional who offers the best balance of expertise and cost.

"I'm interested in discovering my roots, but I don't have the time to learn a new skill. Can I hire someone to trace my entire family line?"
Sound familiar?
Start a Project

Custom Research

Get specialized assistance.

Family history experts can handle projects of all sizes and scopes.
If you lack the time or inclination to master a new set of skills, yet you're interested in watching your family tree blossom and grow, then it's time to call for reinforcements. Through the Custom Research service, you can hire an expert to trace your genealogy back to the 1700s, or you can appoint a specialist to navigate a particularly difficult section of your family history. No matter what you need help with, Expert Connect can put you in touch with the world's top genealogists, each offering a wide range of skills and expertise. Help is just a click away.

How it works
Simply post your research project online and request bids from the experts. Then browse your results and choose the professional who offers the best balance of expertise and cost.


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