Research Contract


  C & J Genealogical Services
1329 E. 154th Street
Olathe, KS 66062
913-638-5775
cjgenealogy@gmail.com
http://cjgenealogy.blogspot.com

[Your name and address]
  
  Dear ________________:

  You have asked me to conduct professional genealogical services for you. This letter, with the accompanying Schedule of Fees and expenses, describes the agreement between us. If you agree with the terms, please sign both copies and return one to me.

  I will undertake to [statement your research objectives, and any applicable time constraints.]

  So that I will not duplicate work already done, you will provide me with the information you already have,
·         including copies of reports or summaries of previous research,
·         copies of related records such as family group sheets, pedigree chart, and
·         notes on sources or collections already searched.

  Our agreement will become effective, and I will begin work, when I have received
·         the above materials of information already known
·         a copy of this letter, with your signature
·         your non-refundable check for the initial retainer of $________. This retainer includes up to ___________ hours of work before you will be charged an hourly fee in accordance with the attached schedule of fees and expenses. You will authorize any additional time in writing.

  I will perform this work accordance with prevailing professional standards in genealogy, including the code of Ethics of the Association of Professional Genealogists, the Code of Ethics adopted by the Board for Certification of Genealogists, and the Standards recommended by the National Genealogical Society, copies of which are attached.

  After I have analyzed your problem, completed the research, and reached my conclusions, I will provide you with a documented report describing my findings and the basis for my conclusions with copies of relevant documents with full source citation.

  I will hold confidential any information you provide that is not already a matter of public record or public knowledge. I will treat with discretion, even if they are already matters of public record, issues that concern living persons, their parents, or immediate families, as well as the following items that you have specifically noted as sensitive: [Additional items not listed] I retain the right to make further use of the results of work done at your request, including publication in articles or books, with acknowledgment of your sponsorship of the research, unless you request anonymity.

  I retain the copyright to the report and the manner in which I have expressed the information in it. You may make a limited number of personal copies of the report, but you agree that you will not otherwise publish or make multiple copies of the report without my written permission. When given permission you agree that when you distribute to others or publish any information  from my report, including my findings and conclusions, you will report them accurately, you will include any qualifiers (such as probable or possible, when accompanying a conclusion), and you will credit my report as the source.

  We both agree that if any dispute arises out of this agreement, we will use the arbitration services of The Association of Professional Genealogist (APG) and accept as final and binding on both of us the arbitration decision, and we both consent to the entry of the decision as a final judgment in any court that may have jurisdiction over either of us.

  This letter and the accompanying fee schedule reflect the full scope of our agreement and replace any earlier, tentative commitments by either of us. Any changes will be effective only if they are also made in writing.

  Thank you for the opportunity to be of service.

Sincerely yours,
  
____________________________
Char Mitts
C & J Genealogical Services

  Accepted

  __________________________________
  [Your Name]



   __________________________________