Untangling Family History offers professional genealogy and genetic genealogy services for people with complex, meaningful stories. Whether you are starting with nothing, feeling stuck with an existing family tree, or navigating DNA results, I provide careful, ethical research to help you understand where you come from.
This is not about building the biggest tree. It is about making sense of real lives.
You can work with me in two ways:
a quick, focused piece of help to get you moving, or a deeper piece of research to explore your family story properly.
Family history can be emotional as well as complicated. I work in a way that is:
Careful and ethical
Clear about scope and cost
Respectful of living people
Focused on understanding, not just collecting names
Every project begins with a short consultation so we can agree what you want to know, what is possible, and how best to proceed.
You receive a written research report that explains what was found, what it means, and what remains uncertain.
If you want a simple, clear way to begin, I offer short, focused research sessions designed to give you momentum without overwhelm.
Where do I start?
A review of what you know, what records exist, and the best next steps.
Is my family tree right?
A professional sense-check of your existing tree or DNA results.
Find one person
Help locating a birth, marriage, death, or migration record.
DNA results explained
A plain-English walkthrough of what your matches and percentages mean.
Starting your family history
For people who have little or no paperwork and do not know where to begin.
You might only have a name, a place, or a story. That is enough to start. I help you identify the best starting point and carry out the first stages of UK or Australian research, giving you a clear foundation to build on.
UK family history research
Research using civil registration, census records, parish registers, and other sources across England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland.
This includes tracing families, resolving missing people, and understanding changes in names, places, and occupations over time.
Australian family history research
Research into birth, marriage, and death records, immigration and shipping lists, electoral rolls, and other state and national archives.
This is especially useful for families who arrived in Australia from the UK or Ireland and are unsure how the story connects.
UK–Australia migration tracing
Many families moved between Britain and Australia, sometimes more than once. I specialise in following these movements and reconnecting records that have become separated by geography and time.
DNA and genetic genealogy
I offer support using DNA results alongside traditional records, including work as a DNA Angel for adoptees, donor-conceived people, and others searching for genetic family.
This work is handled with care, consent, and clear boundaries for everyone involved.
Brick walls and complex cases
If you have an existing family tree, DNA results, or certificates but feel stuck or uncertain, I can review what you have, assess what is reliable, and identify the best way forward.
This often includes:
Checking assumptions
Interpreting DNA matches
Resolving conflicting records
Creating a clearer research plan
What you receive
Every piece of research includes:
A written report in plain English
A summary of what was found
Copies or references to key records
An explanation of uncertainties or gaps
Clear suggestions for next steps
This is work you can keep, share, and return to.
We start with a short, gentle consultation
We agree the focus, scope, and fee
I carry out the research
You receive a clear written report explaining what was found, what it means, and what your options are
No rushing. No pressure.
Family history is about people, not just documents. I work slowly and carefully, with respect for the lives behind the records and the emotional weight that often comes with them.
If you would like to explore your family history, you are welcome to get in touch.
Copyright 2026 | Untangling Family History| Terms & Conditions | Privacy