A Question About Your Family History? Let’s Investigate.
Every custom genealogical investigation is tailored to your situation and your goals.
Every family has its grey areas: a date that doesn’t add up, a first name that disappears, a branch no one ever talks about.
You may have already tried researching on your own, but the archives are complex and the leads get tangled quickly.
The result: the doubt lingers, and the feeling that a piece of your history is slipping away remains very much present.
Rooted in Moselle & Lorraine Archives
Moselle’s records are unlike anywhere else in France: Latin parish registers before 1792, German-language civil records during the annexation (1871–1918), and towns with both a French and a German name.
I work with them regularly at the Moselle Departmental Archives (AD57), online and in the reading room, and I know where to look when a trail goes cold. This is my most requested service, by families in France and abroad.
One Precise Question, Answered with Sources
Here, everything is tailored to you: I review your request, assess its feasibility, then carry out a targeted investigation in the archives of Moselle and Lorraine to give you well-documented, sourced conclusions.
It suits a one-off question as well as longer research: reconstructing a family episode, building a file of evidence for an official application (nationality, inheritance), or following a lead across several generations. It is also designed for clients living abroad, for whom French archives are hard to reach.
How Does a Custom Investigation Work?
01
Request
Explain your request, even if it’s vague: a name, an approximate period, or a place may be enough to get started.
02
Review
Within 2 business days, I get back to you with a clear assessment, a personalized quote, and an estimated timeline.
03
Research
Civil registers, parish registers, notarial deeds, military sources… I search the archives of Moselle and Lorraine for you, online and in the reading room when needed.
04
Verification
I methodically cross-check the evidence found and clearly distinguish what is confirmed, probable, possible, or unproven.
05
Delivery
You receive a complete, well-structured, easy-to-read report, with the documents used and detailed conclusions.
Why Trust Me With Your Genealogical Investigation?
Free Quote Within 2 Business Days
No cost, no obligation. Your personalized quote is ready within 2 business days.
A Price Set Before We Begin
The price is set in your quote: once you accept it, it won’t change without your agreement.
Sourced Report Included
A clear, structured report with your sources, the records found and my conclusions.
IFFG-Trained Genealogist
Trained in family genealogy at the IFFG (French Institute for Genealogy Training), with a rigorous, source-based method.
Guaranteed Confidentiality
Your personal and family information is handled with discretion and is never shared without your consent.
Common Requests
Common Cases I Investigate
This service covers all specific and personalized research requests, including:
Verify a Family Legend
Supposed nobility, a name change, a famous ancestor… I compare the story told in the family with the official records and tell you, with evidence, what can be proven — and what cannot.
Solve a Family Mystery
Unknown parentage, adoption, a hidden child, a changed name… I follow the leads from one archive to the next to establish what the sources can actually prove.
Check a Family Tree
You already have some branches, but a doubt remains? I check each record, cross-check the sources and correct errors, for a reliable, sourced tree.
Trace a Person
A lost branch, a missing cousin, an ancestor no one can find… I reconstruct their path through the archives to pick up their trail, wherever it leads.
Clarify a Family Episode in History
War, exile, a change of nationality… I carry out targeted research in military, administrative and civil records to reconstruct a precise path — including for an official application.
Trace Origins from Abroad
You live outside France, or a branch of your family left it? I search the French archives for you and keep you updated remotely; your report can be written in English on request.
Behind Every Name, a Story
I’m passionate about archives and family memory.
My goal: turn a vague question into a clear answer, through a rigorous method and the support of official sources.
Every investigation is carried out with seriousness, discretion, and respect, because behind every document are lives, choices, and truths that matter.
Your Story Deserves to Be Told
Every family has its secrets and mysteries.
Even if your project doesn’t exactly match my services, I’d be delighted to explore it with you and create a tailor-made solution.
Tell me about your idea, and let’s see together what the archives can establish.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Custom Investigation
I have very little information about an ancestor — can you still do research?
Yes, and this is actually a very common situation. Many clients start with an approximate date, an uncertain place, or an incomplete lineage — an ancestor born out of wedlock with no recognized father, or a family that left its region of origin (Lorraine to Paris, for example, is a path I come across regularly).
In these cases, I rely on several complementary sources: censuses, which help place a family in time even without an exact date, succession records, and local historical context — some Parisian archives from before 1871 were notably destroyed by fire, which requires working around the problem through other leads.
I can never guarantee a 100% result: it all depends on what the archives have preserved. But an incomplete case almost never prevents us from starting — during our first free conversation, I’ll assess with you what’s realistic and which leads are available.
How much does a custom investigation cost?
From €150 for one precise question. Longer or more complex files are quoted on the basis of €55/hour for clients in France and €85/hour for clients outside France. Either way, the price is fixed in your quote before any research begins. Up to €150 included, full payment is due when ordering; above €150, a 30% deposit is due when ordering and the balance on delivery. Research starts once payment is received. Payments from abroad can be made by bank transfer or Wise, with bank fees paid by the client.
What happens if the archives don’t give an answer?
It can happen: some records were lost or never existed. In that case, the 30% deposit (or, for services up to €150, the amount paid when ordering) covers the work already done, you receive a report listing the sources consulted and the leads that remain, and no balance is due.
How long does it take?
It depends on the question and on access to the records. You receive a realistic timeline with your quote, before anything starts.
Do I need to speak French or travel to France?
No. Everything is done remotely, by email, phone or video call, and your report can be written in English on request. The records are in French, German or Latin, and I pick out the key information from each record, using its standard wording.
Do You Have a Question No One Has Ever Been Able to Solve?
Entrust me with your request: I’ll investigate the archives and bring you clear answers, backed by evidence.