After an initial free consultation to discuss what is already known, we review availability of records in relevant places & locations. After feeling out what is available, I make a tentative proposal including methodology, timing, and priorities. Clients are free to cap costs and/or review results to date before proceeding past a given point.

In general, indexed databases like JewishGen (plus affiliated databases such as JRI-Poland) and Ancestry are used to start. Depending on region and availability of unindexed records, the most valuable resources are archives with a large digitized portion, and microfilmed records on sites such as FamilySearch.

Sometimes, in-person research is necessary at institutions such as the Center for Jewish History, National Archives or the US Holocaust Memorial Museum. However, the bulk is normally done online or via remote requests for scans of small portions of undigitized collections.

Yes, due to several factors:

• Efficiency of individual archives in cataloging and preserving.

• Survival of records, especially those dating before WWII.

• Westernization, especially relationships between individual countries and the West.

Certainly. Based on past projects, we have varying familiarity with the following countries:

Austria, Czechia, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Ukraine, United States.

While there is no single answer for general research projects, which can vary widely, citizenship restoration and Holocaust victims’ assets restitution should take six to twelve months. During this time, you may need to supply specific documents if privacy laws restrict general access. For more information on what packages include, please see the page for the relevant service.