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Think your family stories are wild? Let’s prove it.

two ways to Get Started

Let’s chat or pop me an email below.

Projects start at $95/hr. Book in bulk, and the rate chills out like a great aunt after her third sherry.

Let’s Chat

Want to chat it out, human to human? Cool. Tap that calendar, snag a spot, and let’s talk about your mystery person, your ancestor drama, and how I can help.

No pressure. No hard sells. Just a 20-minute conversation between two people who may be WAY too interested in historical land deeds.

(Bonus: you don’t have to explain your obsession with 19th-century handwriting. I get it. I do it professionally.)


Send an email

Not a talker? Prefer to spill your story through keystrokes while wearing pajama pants and eating cold spaghetti? I deeply respect that.

Use the form to tell me what you’re curious about — I’ll help you follow the thread, wherever it leads

(Bonus: typos welcome. I’ve decoded worse, including a will written entirely in what I can only assume was a haunted quill pen.)

  • Curious why your last name sounds like a sneeze and means “goat fortress”?

  • Want to know where your weird love of pickles came from?

  • Wondering if “mysterious stomach thing” runs in the family? (It does.)

  • Want stories that make Thanksgiving way more interesting?

  • Secretly hoping that you descended from royalty (or pirates)?

  • Feel oddly drawn to the 1800s? Might be time to check your reincarnation receipts.

  • Need a reminder you come from badass survivors and not just beige casseroles?

  • Want to know if that scandalous family tale is true... or way worse?

  • Find out who actually came over on the boat and who stayed behind

  • Lowkey hoping your ancestor invented something weird and profitable, like the spork?

  • Need an excuse for your inability to make eye contact or your deep love of wool coats?

  • Trying to figure out where the family curse started? (Same.)

  • Think you might be related to someone famous? Or infamous? Let’s find out.

  • Feel comfortable sending nudes? Find out if it runs in the family.

  • Want receipts for that “we’re part Cherokee” claim? Let’s fact-check Grandpa.

  • Just want to settle once and for all if your great-uncle actually robbed a brinks truck?

  • Looking for proof that you come from extremely resilient women?

  • Want to prove once and for all that your dramatic flair is genetic?

  • Need to know if your ancestors were witches, farmers, or just really intense bakers?

  • Looking for the original source of your family’s love of arguing and soup?

  • Secretly hoping you’re descended from a scandal? Same. Let’s go.

  • Grandpa was on trial for what? Find out the real details.

  • Wondering if that creepy house in your hometown used to belong to your people?

  • Looking to win family dinner forever with a mic-drop origin story?

  • Want to name your baby after someone badass instead of your cousin Kyle?

  • Guess What? Your civil war reinacting uncle gerald doesn't know everything. There is more to your family history.

  • Who in your family made the headlines for more than just growing the largest pumpkin?

  • Find out what was in their wills, the money, the horse hair beds, and what was mysteriously referred to as "the egg."

FAQs

you have the question - I have the answers

  • I want this to be a win-win for us. I want you to enjoy the discoveries and for the process to be easy and enjoyable. If for any reason you aren’t happy, just say the word, any unused hours will be returned.

    Additionally, when you engage a professional genealogist you’re purchasing their research time + expertise. There is no guarantee on the # of records that will be found or generations that will be added. As such, if researching + reporting takes less time than purchased, you’ll be refunded any unused hours.

  • Schedule a call to talk through your family and your project. We’ll make sure we’re a good fit for one another! I am excited to get to know you and uncover your ancestors and their stories.

  • For a tree that spans 3 generations and includes relevant stories, images, newspaper clippings, immigration, naturalization, birth, marriage, and death records, etc, you can expect about 40 hours.

    This includes 2 sets of grandparents, 4 sets of great grandparents, 8 sets of 2nd great grandparents and 16 sets of 3rd great grandparents.

    When you engage a professional genealogist you’re purchasing their research time + expertise. There is no guarantee for the # of records that will be found or generations that will be added. As such, if researching + reporting takes less time than purchased, you’ll be refunded any difference.

  • I research all areas and have access to worldwide records. I have spent the most time researching Ashkenazi Jewish families and connecting these present day Americans to their European roots. Jewish research is a bit of a sweet spot, but there isn’t an area I don’t love to dive into.

  • It’s best to start with grandparents names, dates and locations of birth. If this isn’t known information, no problem! We’ll start with what you know.

  • While not required, DNA testing can provide many wonderful insights by connecting you to close and distant family. It also supports the paper trail of records. Additionally, this is typically how some of the most hidden family secrets are found. In many cases you can do a test through one service like ancestry, and then to shake the secrets from the tree, upload your results across multiple platforms.

  • Yes, if adopted a DNA test will need to be performed to locate your closest matches. I’ll uncover your family details and be able to shed light on medical history and more.

  • We will discuss the level of visibility you’d like to have with your tree. Many clients want their tree to be public in hopes of extended family finding it and reaching out. Others ask for their tree to be private and not accessible to others. I’ll follow your lead.

  • Research is mostly confidential (aside from reaching out to my genealogy networks for occasional support). Your tree will be private unless you request otherwise. Should we find family members through research or DNA testing, I am happy to reach out on your behalf to make initial contact. Alternatively, I can give you some best practice to reach out on your own. However, we also don’t have to take any action at all. I’ll follow your lead.

What they said behind my back

  • "I am blown away with the stories that Joanna uncovered. Her research methods are top notch. She knows how to find the good stuff!"

    - Amber

  • "I am so impressed! Joanna was a joy to work with from start to finish. She stays in touch the entire time and celebrates your family as if it is her own."

    - Maura

  • "There were so many mysteries in my family. Joanna worked quickly to escavate them and bring my ancestors to life. I feel more connected to them now than ever before. I would highly recommend working with Joanna"

    - Karen