What should a genealogy due diligence report include?

Start with the assignment, not just a family tree.

Genealogy due diligence is research into the family history and records behind reported relationships. For a title file, the assignment might be to examine the family history in an existing affidavit, investigate a potentially omitted branch, or reconcile conflicting information supplied during intake.

The report should identify the questions investigated, the starting information, and the boundaries of the engagement. A review of one reported relationship is different from research across multiple generations. Without that scope, a reader may assume the work answered a question that was never investigated.

At Heir Apparent, we agree on scope, deliverables, fees, and expected turnaround before research begins. The following is a framework for discussing a useful report, with the final format determined for the engagement.

Put the findings and their significance up front.

A reviewer should be able to identify the main issues before working through the supporting records. An effective summary separates:

• Findings supported by the research: the relationship or event, with a reference to the evidence.
• Discrepancies: information that conflicts with the affidavit, intake, or another source.
• Research leads: possible connections that require further investigation.
• Open questions: matters the agreed research did not resolve.

Explain why a discrepancy matters to the research question. Two spellings of a surname may need to be reconciled; two different reported parents may require a different line of investigation. A list of mismatches without context leaves the reviewer to reconstruct the reasoning.

Connect each material relationship to its evidence.

An organized account of the relevant relatives and family branches helps the team follow the findings. Whether the agreed presentation uses a table, narrative, or diagram, distinguish a reported relationship from one corroborated by the research. Do not let a clean visual imply more certainty than the evidence supports.

Source references should let reviewers trace a material finding back to the record examined. Useful details include the record type, names and dates, the repository or collection, and the relevant page or entry when available. Identify whether the research used an original record image, an index, or information supplied by someone else.

The National Genealogical Society’s Guidelines for Sound Genealogical Research emphasize documenting sources, testing conclusions against evidence, and making uncertainty explicit. Those principles help a reviewer evaluate a report rather than simply accept its conclusions.

Make the limits and next questions visible.

A report is more useful when it explains what remains unknown. Relevant limitations might include an unavailable record, an unresolved identity match, conflicting accounts, or a family branch outside the agreed scope. Failure to locate a record in the sources searched is not, by itself, proof that the event or person did not exist.

Follow-up items should connect to specific findings. For example, an illustrative research question might be whether two differently named records concern the same person. The report can identify that question and the evidence needed to investigate it without presenting an unverified connection as a resolved relationship.

For the handoff, ask: Can the reviewer locate the evidence? Can they distinguish a finding from a lead? Can they see what was not investigated? If those answers are clear, the report can help the team focus its next review.

Use the report for professional review.

A Heirship Diligence Report supports evaluation by title agencies, underwriters, and attorneys. It does not itself establish legal heirship, certify that every heir has been found, or guarantee clear or insurable title. The responsible professionals determine the legal requirements, curative steps, and title decisions.

Review our illustrative sample report to see how findings and unanswered questions can be organized. For a live file, request a report with a general description of the question and your requested date. We will discuss the appropriate scope before research begins.