You live in the United States, Canada, Australia or elsewhere, and your family came from Lorraine. You would like a professional to search the French archives — but how does it work from a distance, what does it cost, and how do you pay? Here are clear answers.
How it works, step by step
- You write to me with what you know: names, places, dates, documents.
- I reply within 2 business days with a first assessment and a free, detailed quote in euros.
- You confirm and pay a 30% deposit (or the full amount for services up to €150). Research starts once payment is received.
- I search the archives online and, when needed, in the reading room near Metz. You receive progress updates for longer projects.
- You receive your report as a PDF: sourced findings, copies of the records, and uncertainties clearly flagged. The balance is due on delivery.
Prices
| Custom investigation — one precise question (a missing link, an unknown village, records for a citizenship application) | From €150 |
| Single-line research — one branch, 4 to 7 generations | From €210 |
| Discovery package — 4 generations, both sides | From €380 |
| Heritage package — 5 generations, up to 31 ancestors, booklet and GEDCOM file | €690 |
| Complex or international cases | Custom quote, €55/hour for clients in France, €85/hour for clients outside France |
The price is fixed in your quote before any research starts. No VAT is charged (French micro-business status). See all details on the main English page.
Paying from abroad
Prices are in euros. You can pay by international bank transfer or through Wise, which usually keeps conversion fees low. Bank fees are paid by the client.
Timeline
A custom investigation usually takes a few weeks; a full family tree takes longer. The estimate is given in your quote, and depends on the records available and on reading-room visits. I will always tell you if the archives require more time.
What if nothing is found?
Genealogy depends on the records that have survived, so no result can be guaranteed. If the archives yield nothing, the deposit (or, for services up to €150, the amount paid when ordering) covers the research carried out, you receive a report of the sources checked and possible next steps, and no balance is due.
What to send me with your request
- Names of the ancestor you are looking for, with every spelling you have seen (French, German or anglicized).
- Approximate dates: birth, marriage, emigration, death, even if you are not sure.
- Places: a village, a region, a port of departure, or simply “Lorraine” or “Alsace-Lorraine”.
- Documents you already have: census entries, naturalization papers, passenger lists, letters, photos, DNA results.
- Your goal: a full family tree, one missing link, or records for an official application.
Do not worry if you only have one clue: many investigations start with a single name and a date. I will tell you honestly what can be done with it.
Why a genealogist based in Moselle?
I am Stéphanie Perrin, a genealogist trained at the IFFG (Institut Français de Formation à la Généalogie), with more than 20 years of genealogy research behind me. I live near Metz, close to the Moselle departmental archives. Moselle records are unusual: Latin parish registers, French civil records, and German-language records during the annexation (1871–1918). Knowing these sources, and being able to visit the reading room when a document is not online, often makes the difference.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to speak French?
No. Your report can be written in English on request. I pick out the key information from each record, using its standard wording, and explain what it means for your family.
Will I receive copies of the records?
Yes, whenever the archives allow it. Your PDF report includes the references of each record (archive, register, page) and copies or photos of the documents found, so every finding can be checked.
Can you help with records for a citizenship application?
I can locate the Moselle records you need and explain how to request official copies. The legal requirements depend on the country you apply to, so please check them with the relevant consulate. More details in my guide on Moselle records for citizenship by descent.