You have the clues.
What do they
really tell you?
Conflicting records. An uncertain DNA connection. A relative you’d like to contact. Turn the question that has you stuck into a focused next step.
Discuss my research questionAccepted introductory consultations are complimentary.
No obligation to commission research.
Understand the evidenceSeparate what a record says from what you think it means.
Choose a useful next stepGive your next research session a question and a purpose.
Make a thoughtful connectionReach out to relatives with one clear, manageable request.
Practical help for the work
between discoveries.
Use these resources to think through a problem, organize the work, and begin conversations that may reveal another piece of your family’s story.
When Your Family History Doesn’t Add Up
Make sense of competing explanations, conflicting records, and uncertain connections without forcing the evidence to fit.
- Distinguish observations from conclusions
- Consider what DNA can — and cannot — establish
- Identify what would change your thinking
$19.95 USD · digital guide
The Genealogist’s Workflow
Bring structure to your research with Gary’s Evalu8 framework and reusable working pages.
- Choose a manageable research objective
- Keep sources and reasoning together
- Leave each session with a useful next step
$14.95 USD · digital guide
Buy the Workflow guide — $14.95
The Cousin Connection Kit
Practical message templates and working pages for contacting relatives and preserving what they share.
- Make a first request easy to answer
- Follow up and say thank you
- Clarify permission before sharing material
$9.95 USD · digital kit
Family History Research Workbook
Twelve practical worksheets to take one research question from your first inventory of clues to a documented next step.
- Build a timeline and compare conflicting evidence
- Track searches, DNA clues, and family conversations
- Record a provisional conclusion and a plan for sharing
- Includes printable and fillable PDFs for handwriting or typing
$9.95 USD · digital workbook
The Genealogy Gary Research Collection
Read the guides, put the process into practice, and reach out to relatives. One collection brings together all four resources above.
$39.95 USD · $54.80 purchased individually · Save $14.85
Includes both guides, the Cousin Connection Kit, and the Family History Research Workbook. Includes both printable and fillable Workbook editions — five PDF files in all. Personalized research and assessments are separately scoped and priced.
Buy the collection — $39.95Individual digital editions · Prices in US dollars. The Kit and Workbook are separate paid resources; the complimentary consultation offer includes the two guides only.
Make the question smaller.
“How can I find more about my family?”
Try: “Two records give different names for my great-grandfather’s father. What would help me decide whether they describe the same person?”
Illustrative example. A focused question makes it easier to choose relevant evidence and recognize what remains uncertain.
A three-line research reset
- My questionName the person, place, approximate period, and uncertainty
- What I haveList the two or three records or clues most relevant to that question
- What I need to distinguishWrite down the competing explanations you want to test
Let’s start with
one real question.
Tell me what you’re trying to establish, what you already know, and where the work has stalled. I’ll review your inquiry to see whether my services fit your needs.
Submit my research questionThe button opens Genealogy Gary’s inquiry form. It does not book an appointment or commit you to paid work.
What happens next
- Send a short inquiryStart with your primary question and a brief summary of the materials you have
- Gary reviews the fitIf it’s a suitable match, we’ll arrange a complimentary introductory consultation, primarily Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Pacific
- Leave with a clearer directionAccepted consultations include complimentary copies of both guides above. Any detailed assessment or research is separately scoped and priced
The introductory conversation is a chance to discuss your question and possible next steps. It is not a completed research assessment. There is no obligation to commission research.
A few things you may be wondering
Do I need a finished family tree?
No. A specific question and a brief account of what you already know are enough to begin an inquiry. You do not need to send a complete archive or raw DNA data with your first message.
What kinds of research does Gary focus on?
Gary focuses on Jewish and Eastern European family research, DNA analysis, and lineage reconstruction. Describe your question so he can assess whether it fits his services.
Does an inquiry guarantee a consultation?
Gary reviews each inquiry for fit before offering a consultation. Submitting the form does not automatically schedule a call.
What does the complimentary offer include?
An accepted introductory consultation includes When Your Family History Doesn’t Add Up and The Genealogist’s Workflow. The Cousin Connection Kit and Family History Research Workbook are separate companion resources, priced at $9.95 each. They are not included in the complimentary two-guide offer.
What is included in the complete collection?
The $39.95 Genealogy Gary Research Collection includes all four resources: both guides, the Cousin Connection Kit, and the Family History Research Workbook. Personalized research is separately scoped and priced.
How do I receive and use my files?
After payment, use the download links on your order confirmation or in your customer email. Files usually save to your Downloads folder. The Workbook includes printable and fillable PDFs at the same $9.95 price. Open the fillable edition in Adobe Acrobat Reader and save a separate copy for each project.
Can I keep following Gary’s work?
Yes. Subscribe to Roots Roundup for Gary’s ongoing genealogy writing.
Gary Katz
Genealogy Gary
I’m a professional genealogist and genetic genealogy analyst specializing in Jewish and Eastern European family research, DNA analysis, and lineage reconstruction. I help people investigate family connections and document their findings.
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