This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/ZVC.2ACE/4098.1.2.1.1 Message Board Post: Conrad...I'm not sure what else there is to say. He's in his mid-late 30's (just a guess), and does this for a living (not a hobby)...he's got some sort of degree in bibliotek/genealogy. I think he may also do work for local governments if they need to chase something down. He's not cheap, but gets an awful lot done in a short time (since he knows what he's doing and where to look). Until he knows/trusts you, he wants to be paid in advance, which is not unreasonable. We liked him especially because he picked up "incidental" stuff (ancestors' occupations, position in the community, historical bits involving ancestors, etc) besides just a bunch of birth/death dates....we even made a trip to Braunschweig (where my wife's ancestors come from) just to see some old buildings and museum pieces connected to her ancestors. Just E-Mail him. HTH. Chris