I am completely booked up due to media consulting work and unable to take any private clients. I can no longer provide referral services or respond to individual questions due to the extremely large volume of email I receive. Thank you for your understanding.
My advice before hiring a genetic genealogist or paid searcher for unknown parentage cases:
1. DNA test at, at least, two of the four companies offering relative matching services. See recommendations here.
2. If you have no matches closer than predicted 4th cousins (unless you have unlimited funds or unlimited time), make sure you are in all four databases and then wait for a closer match. (They are coming in every day now with the fast growing databases, so don't give up!)
3. Join my Facebook group DNA Detectives for free guidance.
Thank you and best of luck in your research.
what is the difference between the geno2 test from Nat'l Geo and the more expensive test from Familytee (Genes by Gene)?
ReplyDeleteI am willing to wait for your services. Is that possible?
ReplyDeleteIt could be a long wait since I am super busy with FYRs research and some "foundling" cases. Please send an email to the address listed above and explain what your goals.needs are. Thanks!
DeleteCan my brother who had a bone marrow transplant for cancer 15 years ago be tested for Y or Autosomal DNA? Ancestry initially said yes but then changed their mind when the tests came back completely off track. I have since been told by ancestry that it would not work...can you please confirm if you know anything about this? It would be a shame because I would like to do Y DNA for my father's family and we don't have much information on them. Thank you, Ellen
ReplyDeleteI have been attempting to hire a genetic genealogist for some time now. There is difficulty in getting them to respond or request some mind blowing amount of money. What to do next?
ReplyDeleteThe problem is that there are so few of us and most cases are very time intensive. Have you joined our Facebook group DNA Detectives for free advice and guidance?
DeleteI am interested in joining your Facebook group DNA Detectives for free advice and guidance. Can you provide me with the website address? Thanks.
ReplyDeleteHi Matthew,
DeletePlease join us here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/DNADetectives/
Hope to see you there!
My grand dad is Italian and my grandmother is black. what am i since my sperm came from an Italian man?
ReplyDeleteHello, I am trying to find out where my 7th great grandfather came from. For some reason he did not write down who his parents were when he came to Amherst VA in 1680. My dna does not match with the Douglas Clan like how Ancestry says my family is. Ftdna says that I match with families from Wales such as the Howell's and Jone's. Would this show that my one grandfather came from Wales rather then Scotland? I also cannot seem to find him on any ship rolls that brought him to Amherst. I will join your Facebook like you suggested. I appreciate your work on your website.
ReplyDeleteAbout how much would your services be??
ReplyDeleteHi Arlene, I am not taking any clients right now, but can provide a referral if you write to info@thednadetectives.com. Thank you!
DeleteI was wondering how much these services would be and how long it would take for me results to come back
ReplyDeletePlease find the companies I recommend for genealogy DNA testing here under the "I Recommend" tab above. The results generally take about 4-6 weeks to come back.
DeleteCeCe in giving my DNA and/or Gedmatch kit number to you or another member of the "Hemmings Project" about how long does it take to get results as to what (if any) connection exists between myself, the Thomas Jefferson's, Farrar's or Randolphs' (I have numerous DNA matches showing these links in their tree)?
ReplyDeleteI am primarily of "approximately averaged" to be of 75-80% Sub-Saharan African and was shocked to learn my Carr Surname did not originate in North Carolina, but through records my 3rd great grandfather was born in Richmond, VA area around 1824?
I have shared Gedmatch information with Shannon Christmas, after hearing him speak on DNA and using it to discover/verify genealogy.
Thanks Sincerely
Hi CeCe, I know you say to test at all 3 companies, and I've tested at ancestry and 23&me. I uploaded my results to FTDNA from ancestry, is that the same thing for the FTDNA results or will testing with them directly give me more matches?
ReplyDeleteHi Shelly, it is the same thing so you are all set. :-)
DeleteI was approached by a woman and 2 of her friends years ago while working at my job. She gave me her card said she believed she was my mother and knew some things about me. The mother I had always known now I believe must have set this up but did not expect her to approach me. The whole thing was surreal the woman whom I had always known as my mother now I believe must have been lying to me when I confronted her and said she had no idea who this woman was and is now deceased. I obtained my original birth certificate from the state of Michigan who a Supervisor called me and stated it does not look like I am adopted but she said there is always that rare chance. Not sure where to go and find this mystery woman again or determine if I really am adopted although I have always sensed it.
ReplyDeleteVery intriguing story. You need to have your DNA tested to see if it matches your mother's family tree or not. Please join my DNA Detectives group for guidance: https://www.facebook.com/groups/DNADetectives/
DeleteHi CeCe, I don't know where to start. My husband has never been told by his mother who his father is. He was given a nickname and was told he was dead. His mother offers no other information. Other family members stated that this information is untrue. My husband is now 40 years old and desperately want to find out who is dad is, if he have siblings etc. His mom is elderly now, ill with an onset of dementia. What can be done to help him find out the other half of his identity? He has been struggling with this now for the last 20 years. I understand that you are booked but would love to work with you on this.
ReplyDeleteHe is far from alone in this situation. Please join my DNA Detectives Facebook page for guidance: https://www.facebook.com/groups/DNADetectives/
DeleteI did the Family Finder with Family Tree and have found a match. We believe that he is my father's half brother. They were both born in Montreal and both put up for adoption. We have no information on my now deceased father, but his half-brother was obtained from Dr. Rabinovich who was involved with Montreal's Black Market Babies. His birth records have been "lost". I'm at a loss on how to proceed to find the puzzle pieces. I would appreciate if you could guide me. My most sincere gratitude!
ReplyDeleteCorinda, Please send me an email to info@thednadetectives.com. Thanks!
DeleteA quick question: I had my brother's Y-DNA analyzed on Family Tree DNA and the result showed a haplogroup R m-198 with NO matches. How can that be? Is Rm198 such an unusual haplogroup as to have zero clients in their database? Any ideas on next steps?
ReplyDeleteHi Corinda - I had my brother's Y-DNA tested at Family Tree DNA and we received test results this week showing a haplogroup of R M-198. However, there were NO matches shown. According to FTDNA, they said that there were zero matches, meaning no one in their database was a R M-198? That seems strange to me but I'd like your opinion. Any advice as to gain matches? Thanks.
ReplyDelete