Not Sure What Kind of Genealogy Help You Need? Start Here
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Whenever someone hears I’m a genealogist, they usually say one of two things.
“I’ve always wanted to look into my family,” or, “I started a family tree, but I have no idea what I’m doing now.”
Sound familiar?
Most of us begin our family history journey out of curiosity. But it doesn’t take long to realize that research isn’t as simple as typing a name into a search box. There’s the thrill of the chase, yes, but also piles of records, conflicting dates, dead ends, and sometimes handwriting that looks like it was done in the dark with a leaky pen.
That’s when you realize: you need some genealogy help.
But here’s the trick, what kind of help do you actually need?
Do you just want a better research plan? Are you completely stuck and need someone to talk it through with? Or would you rather hand the whole thing off to a professional and finally get some answers?
Hi, I’m Jessica. Genealogist, researcher, and your guide here at Heritage Discovered. I’ve worked with researchers at every stage of their journey, and I’ve created tools, sessions, and services to match each kind of need.
Here’s how to figure out what’s right for you.
1. Genealogy Help For the Independent Researcher Who Just Needs a Plan
If you love the process of searching and discovering (welcome to the club) but feel like your genealogy searches are a little scattered, this section is for you.
Maybe you’re jumping between ancestors or saving records without reviewing them too closely because you don’t know what you’re looking for (or at). Or you’ve lost track of what you’ve already searched and you keep reinventing the wheel.
What you need isn’t someone to do the work for you. What you need is structure. A strategy. A plan that works.
Here’s some targeted genealogy research help to get you organized and moving forward:
Brick Wall Breakthrough Blueprint – This guided workbook walks you through how to analyze, organize, and strategize your way through a genealogy brick wall. With 10+ worksheets and a clear step-by-step process, you’ll build the skills to break through research blocks and avoid hitting them in the future.
Genealogy Records Workbook – Keep track of what records you’ve found and what you still need with this 13-page workbook. Includes ideas across 16 record types (like military, immigration, and newspapers), so you can uncover new leads and avoid ordering the same record twice.
Locality Research Navigator – This 20-page Google Docs template helps you build your own guide to the place your ancestor lived. Track record sets, repositories, maps, timelines, and more.
Archive Ace Checklist – Most genealogy records aren’t online and probably never will be. This two-page checklist helps you prepare for research trips to libraries and archives so you know what to ask for, what to bring, and how to use your time wisely once you’re there.
Each one was built to help you feel confident in your next step, not just busy.
Want more guidance on building a solid plan? This post on setting genealogy research goals will show you how to go from scattered to strategic.
2. Genealogy Help For the Researcher Who’s Stuck and Needs a Thinking Partner
Sometimes, you’ve done all the “right” things and you’re still not making progress. You’ve got a pile of documents, maybe a few possible matches to your ancestor, but nothing is lining up.
That’s when it helps to have a second set of eyes, someone to brainstorm with, validate your hunches, or offer a totally new angle to pursue.
That’s exactly why I created the Pick A Genealogist’s Brain session. You get a 60-minute one-on-one call or Google Meet session with me, where we dive into your specific problem.
Think of it as collaborative genealogy help. I’ll help you identify gaps, untangle messy evidence, and offer tools or strategies you haven’t tried yet.
These genealogy consulting sessions are perfect if:
You’re confident doing research but need clarity about a specific person or goal
You’re dealing with conflicting information and you’re not sure how to untangle it
You’ve hit a brick wall and don’t know how to move forward
And yes, we can share screens. So if you want to talk through a record line-by-line, we absolutely can.
Still debating if you’re stuck or just spinning? My guide to “7 Reasons You’re Stuck Finding Your Ancestors” might help you figure out your next move.
3. Help For the Person Who Just Wants Someone to Take It Off Their Plate
Life gets full. Maybe you’ve got young kids, a demanding job, or health challenges. Or maybe you’re just over trying to decode 19th-century chicken scratch (no judgment; I’ve been there, too).
You’re still deeply curious about your family, but you want someone else to handle the digging, analyzing, and writing.
That’s where my genealogy research services come in.
My Done-for-You Research Packages are designed to give you answers, not homework. We start with a free call to talk about your goals. Then I take it from there. Researching online and at repositories such as libraries, archives, and courthouses, analyzing sources, and delivering everything in a clear, approachable report.
You can choose a 5-hour package for smaller questions or a 10-hour package for deeper dives into a family line.
Some requests could be:
“Can you find out when and where my great-grandparents immigrated from?”
“I have no idea who my grandfather’s parents were, can you help?”
"I found my family on Ancestry, but how do I know if any of it is true?"
This kind of help with genealogy is perfect if you’re ready for answers but don’t want to spend a ton of time trying to find them.
Curious about the kind of work I do behind the scenes? Read why archive research is a game-changer for serious family history discoveries.
4. Genealogy Research Help For Anyone Who Wants to Be More Organized, Creative, or Inspired
Genealogy help isn’t always about solving a problem. Sometimes, it’s about finding joy. Documenting memories. Getting your research out of spreadsheets and into something beautiful.
If that’s your jam, here are some of my favorite genealogy research tools that work for everyone:
Complete Family Story Organizer – A 9-tab Google Sheets template that helps you collect, organize, and explore the details of your family tree. With space for over 500 ancestors, photos, notes, timelines, and a built-in research planner.
Mother Memory Journal – This guided journal helps you reflect on and preserve memories of your mom. With thoughtful prompts, space for photos, and pages to process your grief, it’s a meaningful way to hold on to her story.
Ancestor Timeline – A one-page fillable template to organize every event in your ancestor’s life, or their entire family group, all in one place.
Letters from the Past – This practical 11-page guide walks you through how to preserve old family letters (or other documents) the right way. Learn how to organize, scan, and safely store handwritten heirlooms.
Newspaper Nuggets – A one-page worksheet designed to help you pull every valuable detail from a newspaper article the first time you read it.
5 Generation Chart – A printable pedigree chart to track five generations of your family. Includes fields for birth, marriage, and death details, plus an easy charting system to continue each branch.
Ancestral Arrivals – Use this one-page Google Sheets worksheet to track immigration clues from the 1870 to 1950 censuses. Gather arrival years, naturalization dates, native languages, and birthplace details, all in one place.
These are great whether you’re just starting out or deep in the archives.
Want to connect family history with everyday life? This post on preserving family recipes shows how you can turn food into family storytelling.
Still Not Sure Where You Fit?
Whether you’re searching for immigrant records, diving into archives, or just trying to make sense of that pile of family papers — you don’t have to figure it all out on your own. Genealogy isn’t a straight line. It’s more like a winding path, full of twists, roadblocks, and the occasional breakthrough.
If you know you need help researching ancestors, but aren’t sure what kind, I’d love to help you figure it out.
Book a free 20-minute consultation, and we’ll talk through your goals. I’ll let you know if one of my products, services, or even just a simple strategy is your best next step.
I promise, no pressure. Just support.