Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some of the questions I have received from others who were interested in my services. If you have other questions, please contact me.

The Planning Call

Can we skip the planning call?

Yes. It is up to you whether you want a planning call or not. However, Genealogist Lene Dræby Kottal may ask for a planning call, if she feels it is needed to ascertain that she has understood the assignment correctly. If you decline the request for a chat, she may be unable to help you.

Do I have to place an order if I book a planning call?

No. You do not have to place an order after a planning call or online meeting. You are not obligated to make any payments until you have accepted an agreement. However, no research questions will be answered during the planning call or meeting, so if you have no intention of hiring a professional genealogist, you should not book a chat.

What is the purpose of a planning call?

The main purpose of the planning call is for Genealogist Lene Dræby Kottal to understand the following:

- What you want to know about the subject, e.g., a person or a place.
- What you already know about the subject.
- What your sources of the known information are.
- How many hours you intend to authorize for the research project.

Furthermore, you can ask questions about the process, terms etc.

Can you call me in the evening or during a weekend?

On most weekdays, office hours are from 8 am to 4 pm CET, but Lene Dræby Kottal is flexible about the time of the planning call. A time that fits both will be planned, and evening or weekend meetings is an option, too.

Lene can call you on your phone or set up an online meeting. You may have done your own research about the subject in collaboration with a relative. If you want it, one or more of your relatives can join the online meeting.

Should I prepare anything for the planning call?

The time is best spent if Lene Dræby Kottal has an idea of the research project before the meeting, so she can prepare questions. Therefore, you are encouraged to send information about the project before the meeting.

It is best if you have your research about the subject on hand during the call, so any questions about your previous research can be answered during the call.

Pricing and Payment Terms

What is the price of genealogy research?

The hourly fee decreases with larger research blocks to give you better value as more time is ordered.

Can I get a discount?

Sometimes Genealogist Lene Dræby Kottal offers limited-time discounts. No discount can be combined with another discount.

Do you charge costs for photocopies, etc.?

Expenses in addition to the hourly fee are always agreed upon before they are charged. There will be no additional costs unless agreed upon.

Unless otherwise agreed, the research report is delivered electronically as a PDF. If you want a hard copy of the report, you will be charged for copies and postage. The postage depends on your residence and number of pages of the report.

For projects involving information about persons born less than 110 years ago, fees for lookups in the Danish civil registry may incur. If so, such fees will be charged in addition to the hourly fee. Information about these fees will be included in the agreement when relevant.

Mileage may be charged in addition to the hourly fee. Information about mileage will be included in the agreement when relevant.

Is there a minimum order?

The minimum order for a research project is 10 hours.

Do you require a prepayment (retainer fee)?

Yes, the full fee or a part of it must be prepaid as a retainer fee. The amount of the retainer fee depends on the number of hours you order and the estimated time until delivery. The terms are specified in the agreement.

How do I pay you?

Payments can be made via wire transfer (BIC/SWIFT) or credit card. Accepted card types are Visa, Mastercard, and American Express.
The account details are on the invoice, which will be sent to you.

Beware! If your bank imposes costs for the wire transfer or the credit payment, you must cover these costs. Lene Kottal covers any costs imposed by her bank for receiving the payment.

How many hours does it take to identify my ancestors?

It is not possible to say how many hours it takes to do the research, but estimates can be made. Some research questions require less work to draw a conclusion, while other research questions require extensive work.

Before your research project is begun, you decide how many hours you wish to authorize for the project. Then as much research as possible is done within the given time and the research is reported to you, including negative searches.

When is the project completed?

Agreements with other clients may have been entered before the agreement with you, and those obligations must of course be respected. If you have a deadline, perhaps because you intend to visit Denmark at a certain time and need some information before that, please inform us about that from the beginning, so we have a chance to let you know if we cannot meet that deadline.

Some projects require on-site research at archives. Many local archives are only open one or two days per month. If records must be accessed at the Danish National Archives, they must sometimes be ordered up to two weeks in advance, or there may be a waiting list for access to the records if someone else has already ordered the records. These circumstances extend the time for completion of the project. You will be held informed about the progress throughout the project.