To ensure a clear understanding of our collaborative journey into the past, all research projects are guided by the following professional standards:

1. Professional Scope & Hourly Blocks

Research is conducted in structured hourly blocks, tailored to your specific brick walls or lineage goals. Before any project begins, we will mutually agree upon a defined research objective. Work commences upon receipt of the initial retainer payment.

2. The Nature of Historical Research

Genealogy is an investigative science. While I apply rigorous analytical standards, census auditing techniques, and primary record analysis to every project, the availability and condition of historical records are beyond my control. Fees are strictly billed for professional time, analysis, and report compilation, rather than a guaranteed specific ancestral discovery. Negative findings (proving where a record is not) are still valuable data and will be fully documented in your report.

3. Deliverables & Documentation

At the conclusion of your research block, you will receive a comprehensive, professionally compiled Research Report. This includes:

• An executive summary of findings and an analysis of the evidence.
• A detailed research log tracking all sources examined.
• High-resolution digital copies of all relevant primary documents located.
• Recommendations for future research paths.

4. Additional Expenses

Your hourly block covers research, analysis, and report generation. External costs—such as physical archive repository fees, certified vital record copies, or specialized database lookups—are not included in the baseline hourly fee. These expenses will always be discussed and approved by you in advance and billed at direct cost.

5. Privacy and Ethics

In accordance with professional genealogical standards, the privacy of living individuals is strictly protected. Personal data, DNA results, or sensitive family details concerning living relatives will never be published or shared without explicit written consent.

6. Client-Provided DNA Data & Genetic Genealogy

If your project involves the analysis of commercial DNA results (such as AncestryDNA, 23andMe, or MyHeritage):

• Permissions: You retain full ownership of your genetic data. By sharing access for research purposes, you grant Mossy Stones Genealogy permission to view and analyze your matches, ethnicity estimates, and segment data solely for the duration of our agreed project block.
• The Nature of Genetic Discovery: DNA data provides objective biological evidence. While it is an invaluable tool for breaking through genealogical brick walls, genetic analysis can occasionally reveal unexpected matches, non-paternal events (NPEs), or variance from traditional oral family histories. Mossy Stones Genealogy is not liable for emotional distress or family disruptions resulting from these object biological discoveries.
• Scientific Limits: DNA is a collaborative puzzle. If close biological relatives have not tested, genetic data alone may not definitively solve a lineage mystery within a single research block.

7. Expedited & Rush Projects

Standard projects are scheduled chronologically based on when retainers are received. If your research has a hard deadline—such as an upcoming anniversary, family reunion, or holiday gift milestone—please notify me during our initial consultation.

• Rush Fees: Projects requiring a turnaround time of less than four weeks are subject to an expedited priority fee (typically a 25% to 50% premium on the baseline hourly rate), depending on current calendar availability.
• Scope Restrictions: To ensure professional integrity, rush projects may be limited in scope to repositories that are accessible digitally, as physical archive retrieval and microfilm ordering cannot always be expedited.