The Legacy Tree Genealogists Blog

Hand-picked, tested and trained, our professional genealogist team knows how to find your story. We search the world for answers. Find the un-findable. And we’re experts at everything from tracking down rare international records to analyzing DNA test results. Based near the world’s largest family history library in downtown Salt Lake City, we also work with researchers and archives around the globe. Contact us today if you would like help discovering your ancestors!

Contacting Your Birth Parent or Siblings

November 9, 2018 by Legacy Tree Genealogists 2 Comments

At Legacy Tree Genealogists, we are often contacted by individuals seeking assistance in finding information regarding biological family members. Utilizing advancements in genetic genealogy and thorough genealogical research, we have helped many clients find closure. However, for many, the journey does not end at identifying their birth mother, birth father or siblings. We consulted with industry experts Richard Weiss of DNAAdoption.org and Curry Wolfe, for insight and guidance into the next question that often arises—"How do I contact my birth parent?”Searching for birth parents has never been easy. In many states it was almost impossible. Searching was filled with frustrations, disappointments, and brick walls. Then came DNA testing, a new avenue to find your genetic family. All kinds of questions about using DNA to search come to mind; could it really work, what do I do first, which company to use, what do I do with the results, how long will it take, are there people to help …

13 Secrets to Getting Replies from DNA Cousin Matches

November 2, 2018 by Kerry - Legacy Tree Genealogists Researcher 6 Comments

Tips from one of our professional genealogists for getting responses from your DNA cousin matches.It happens to all of us.You see you have new DNA cousin matches, and you get excited. Maybe they have a brick-wall surname you recognize, or maybe they’re a really close match, or maybe they’re in an area where you think your ancestors may have lived. You do a genealogy happy dance, and you send them a message.And then you wait. And wait. And wait. And nothing happens.It’s frustrating, isn’t it? You need these cousins, and you just can’t reach them. You don’t know what went wrong, or whether they even received the messages. Genealogy is generally fun, but this part is no party.Fortunately, there are steps you can take to improve the odds of getting a response from DNA cousins. We have a whole team of professional genealogists who specialize in adoptee/unknown parentage cases, so getting cousins to reply is critical. Today, we’re sharing our best secrets for getting DNA …

Legacy Tree Genealogists Recognized as One of Utah’s 100 Fastest-Growing Companies…Again

October 31, 2018 by Legacy Tree Genealogists Leave a Comment

Once again, Legacy Tree Genealogists has been named to the Utah100, MountainWest Capital Network (MWCN)’s annual list of 100 fastest-growing companies, this time moving up to rank as 46th on the list. The company was recognized at the 24th annual Utah 100 Awards program, held at the Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City. Recipients of the Utah 100 were chosen by the percentage of revenue increase of each company between 2013 and 2017.“We are excited to receive this recognition once again,” said Jessica Taylor, founder and president of Legacy Tree Genealogists. “Our continued growth wouldn’t be possible without the efforts of each member of our team and their commitment to provide consistently high-quality research for our clients.”Founded in 2004, Legacy Tree Genealogists provides full-service genealogical research for clients worldwide, helping them break through genealogy “brick walls” and create beautiful narratives for family history books. The Legacy Tree team also …

Why Do I Need a Forensic Genealogist?

October 26, 2018 by Legacy Tree Genealogists Leave a Comment

This guide explains the ins and outs of forensic genealogy research - also commonly referred to as probate, heir or estate research.What is probate research?In its simplest form, probate is the process, overseen by a court, whereby a deceased person’s assets are distributed to their heirs and creditors. However, probate is not always simple!Each state has a court that handles probate and the process varies by state. In New York, the probate process takes place in Surrogate's Court; in Pennsylvania, probate is handled in Orphans' Court and in Florida, one would need to file probate in Circuit Court. Determining the correct court can usually be established by an internet search, calling the town or county clerk or by contacting a probate attorney in your area. Some estates, based on their value, do not need to be probated or can be handled by an informal probate. To be sure that you are following the correct process, it is important to either consult a legal expert or receive …