Colleen, Your comments are really good. In my case the researcher sent me an email indicating what he had learned and it contained his bill and address. I mailed the check. He mailed me the hard copies. The email with the information made me comfortable about paying him for the research even though I did not have it in hand. Our letters clearly passed each other in the mail. After the first smooth transaction I think the researcher and I were totally comfortable with the trustworthiness of each other. I am beginning to think I am fortunate to have located this researcher. I have heard a lot of sad tales out there. Best, Elaine Colleen (by way of Genealogy Records Service ) wrote: > Friends, > > As this email points out, there really are two sides to this question of > paying in advance. The person who does the research wants to make sure > that he/she does not get stuck having done the research but then not > getting paid. However an equally legitimate concern is that of the person > who commissioned the research and who does not want to pay for work that > he/she never receives, or is of such poor quality <snip>