Frequently Asked Questions
Membership
What is the difference between membership and The Czech Family Tree?
Membership is ongoing guided genealogy research: we build your Czech family history step by step, with support, research updates, and a plan that can continue as long as you wish. The Czech Family Tree is a one-off project with a defined scope and final delivery. You can choose either service; you do not need a membership to order a family tree.
How fast will my research move?
Most members complete Chapter One in about a year, but every family is different. Progress depends on the records available, the information you already have, archive access, and how much research is needed to prove each connection. The work is finished when the research is done, not when the calendar says so.
I have already done some research. Do I start from zero?
No. Your intake includes a review of the research and documents you already have. Verified work is built upon, not repeated. I check existing trees carefully, because online hints, Smart Matches, and unsourced trees are not proof on their own.
What do I receive during membership?
You receive a personal research plan, written guidance and support at the level included in your membership, research updates, and clear summaries of records found. At the end of each membership year, you receive an overview of the work completed and a proposal for the next stage.
Where will my family tree live? Do I need special software?
Your tree lives in your own account on Ancestry or MyHeritage, whichever you already use. You invite me as an editor, and I work directly in your tree with the people, dates, places, sources, and record images we find. The tree remains yours, including after membership ends. You do not need special software.
What is included in a field research trip?
Premium and MAX members receive one agreed field-research visit per membership year: one village, archive, registry office, or other single destination in the Czech Republic. You receive photographs or copies where permitted and a written report of what I found. Annual members qualify from day one; monthly Premium and MAX members qualify from their seventh month. Trips are scheduled together by region and season. Official archive, registry, copying, certification, postage, and similar fees are separate and passed on at cost.
The Czech Family Tree
What is The Czech Family Tree
The Czech Family Tree is a one-off research project for people who want a clear, finished starting point rather than ongoing membership. The standard project aims to trace one person’s direct Czech ancestry for up to five generations above them — six generations in total, including the starting person — unless we agree a different scope in advance.
What will I receive with a family-tree project?
You receive a PDF family-tree chart and a PDF table of the records found, with names, dates, places, parents where recorded, and archival source citations. You also receive a concise English research summary. The exact scope and deliverables are confirmed before work begins.
Can you guarantee a complete family tree or a fixed number of ancestors?
No. You are buying careful research, experience, and documented results — not a guaranteed number of records or a guaranteed complete tree. Some records no longer exist, are restricted, difficult to read, unavailable online, or cannot be connected with enough confidence. I will always explain what was found, what could not be proved, and the most sensible next step.
Can you research outside the Czech Republic or contact living relatives?
My research focuses on sources relating to the present-day Czech Republic. If your line leads abroad, I can identify the connection and suggest possible next steps, but foreign research is not included unless agreed separately. Contacting living relatives is also separate from the standard family-tree project and happens only when expressly agreed; I approach people respectfully and never share their contact details without their clear permission.