HOW TO HIRE · PERSONAL & LIFESTYLE · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a genealogist / family history in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A genealogist / family history in Ireland costs €40–€200 per hour, typically around €80. Here is how to check that in a minute, what to ask before you book, and what you must be handed when the job is done.
- Search and compare — no account needed
- Nearest to you first
- One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews
THE 60-SECOND VERSION
Hiring a genealogist / family history in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers genealogist / family history work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — historical Contextualization — genealogists often provide historical context to family stories, linking personal histories to broader historical events.
- How does complexity of the research change the price?An unusual brief takes longer to understand before it can be quoted. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does genealogist's experience change the price?Years on the job are part of what you are paying for. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does geographic areas involved change the price?A bigger job takes longer and uses more of everything. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Family Tree Construction — creating a detailed family tree is a core service, where genealogists compile and visually represent family connections — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a genealogist / family history job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Check before you book
No register applies
NO REGISTER APPLIES to chefs, stylists, organisers, errand runners or concierges. You are buying somebody's time, taste and access to your home, so the checks are about trust and what is written down rather than about law.
Look for the trader badge and the ID-checked badge on the Locufy profile — both are checked by us, not claimed by the provider.
What to check instead
Whether they are a trader — a business name and an invoice, not a favour with money attached; Public liability insurance, and who the insurer is; For anyone in your home unaccompanied, references you actually telephone; For food, whether they hold food-safety training and where the food is prepared; Exactly what the hours cover and what counts as extra; Keys and access in writing: who holds what, and how it comes back.
Ask for each of these before you agree a price, and get the answers in the same message as the quote.
Insurance
Expect public liability; for food work, ask about product liability too. From a company, ask for the insurer, the limit and the VAT number, and ask who actually attends: the team that turns up may be employed, subcontracted or both, and only one of those is supervised by the firm you are paying.
Ask to see the current certificate of insurance — the insurer's name, the limit and the date it runs to.
Trader or private seller
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 a trader must tell you they are a trader, and your consumer rights — work carried out with reasonable skill and care, and a cooling-off period on a contract agreed in your home or online — apply to traders and not to private sellers. On Locufy the trader status is shown on the profile.
Look for the trader badge on the Locufy profile, and ask anyone else for it in writing before you agree a price.
VAT
VAT at 13.5%, the reduced rate Revenue publishes for this service. Ask whether the price you were given includes it. A trader under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge it; one over it must, and must show it separately.
Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →
A good answer: No register covers genealogist / family history work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — historical Contextualization — genealogists often provide historical context to family stories, linking personal histories to broader historical events.
A good answer: An unusual brief takes longer to understand before it can be quoted. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Years on the job are part of what you are paying for. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: A bigger job takes longer and uses more of everything. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Family Tree Construction — creating a detailed family tree is a core service, where genealogists compile and visually represent family connections — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a genealogist / family history job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect public liability; for food work, ask about product liability too — DNA Testing Analysis — many genealogists offer services to interpret DNA test results, helping clients understand their ethnic backgrounds and potential relatives.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the genealogist / family history starts, and an itemised invoice after — research and Documentation — genealogists conduct thorough research to trace family lineage, often utilizing historical records, census data, and birth and marriage certificates.
Getting the quote right
- Complexity of the research — an unusual brief takes longer to understand before it can be quoted.
- Genealogist's experience — years on the job are part of what you are paying for.
- Geographic areas involved — a bigger job takes longer and uses more of everything.
- Availability of records — it is the first thing a provider looks at on arrival.
- In writing before anyone starts — a message on Locufy counts
- What is NOT included, named
- Who actually attends, and whether they are employed or subcontracted
- The VAT number, and whether it checks out on the Revenue register
Walk away if
- They will not talk about it: complexity of the research — an unusual brief takes longer to understand before it can be quoted
- They will not talk about it: genealogist's experience — years on the job are part of what you are paying for
- They will not talk about it: geographic areas involved — a bigger job takes longer and uses more of everything
- A price for the genealogist / family history before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
- Cash only, or a large deposit before anything at all has started
- No written quote, or one that moves once the genealogist / family history has begun
What a genealogist / family history costs: €40–€200 per hour
Most genealogist / family historys quote the job rather than the hour; the hourly rate is what the small jobs are priced from. Family tree construction and Historical record research each carry their own band. Genealogist / Family History price guide →
Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.
KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE
Genealogist / family historys near you, with the badges that matter shown
ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.
Or post the job free and let them come to you, or book by the hour.
- Look firstComplexity of the research — an unusual brief takes longer to understand before it can be quoted — that is what the genealogist / family history is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneGenealogist's experience — years on the job are part of what you are paying for — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfGeographic areas involved — a bigger job takes longer and uses more of everything — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherAvailability of records — it is the first thing a provider looks at on arrival — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the genealogist / family history is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, complexity of your family history — custom work means measuring and checking at every step.
- Research and Documentation
- Genealogists conduct thorough research to trace family lineage, often utilizing historical records, census data, and birth and marriage certificates.
- DNA Testing Analysis
- Many genealogists offer services to interpret DNA test results, helping clients understand their ethnic backgrounds and potential relatives.
- Family Tree Construction
- Creating a detailed family tree is a core service, where genealogists compile and visually represent family connections.
- Historical Contextualization
- Genealogists often provide historical context to family stories, linking personal histories to broader historical events.
- Historical Record Research
- Searching through public and private records to gather vital information about ancestors.
- DNA Analysis Interpretation
- Interpreting DNA test results to uncover genetic connections and heritage insights.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a genealogist / family history: questions people ask
The cost can vary based on the complexity of the research, the genealogist's experience, and the geographic areas involved. More extensive investigations requiring access to specialised archives or travel may increase the overall cost.
The duration of a genealogy project can vary widely, from a few hours for basic family trees to several weeks or months for in-depth research. The timeframe often depends on the availability of records and the specific goals of the client.
While a general genealogist can perform basic research, hiring a qualified specialist may be beneficial for complex cases or specific regions. specialised genealogists often have training in historical research and access to exclusive databases.
Same-day service is rarely available due to the nature of genealogical research, which often requires time to locate and verify records. However, some genealogists may offer expedited services for an additional fee.
Yes, many genealogists offer packages that include multiple services such as research, DNA analysis, and family tree construction, often at a discounted rate. Booking several related jobs can streamline the process and provide more comprehensive insights.
Genealogists generally focus on research and documentation, so services like legal advice, property searches, or psychological counseling are typically outside their scope. It's important to clarify the specific services offered before engagement.
MORE GUIDES