Currently accepting clients for...

• Family History Research
• Writing /Publishing

I was a litigation attorney for more than 35 years. I don't really miss practicing law, but my years in the profession taught me some important lessons. Every case was different. Every client was unique. Successful litigation required a thorough understanding of both the facts of each case and of the applicable law. Proper evaluation required consideration of the trustworthiness and reliability of witnesses, the integrity of written documents, and explanations for any evidence that seemed to contradict the client's position. Cases were, and are, decided based on the evidence presented.

Genealogy shares many characteristics with litigation. Sources of information, like witnesses, must be carefully considered for reliability and consistency. Information from sources must similarly be considered in determining the quality of any evidence derived. Conclusions from the evidence need to be adequately explained, and the inevitable pieces of contradictory evidence cannot just be neatly swept under a rug - those too must be considered and explained. And, as in legal representation, the explanation needs to be concise, logically presented, and clear.

While discovery of new facts during research is always fun, the most rewarding part of the whole process for me is bringing everything together in written form. It is a great thing to know the bare facts of someone's otherwise forgotten life, but it is altogether better to know those facts in the context of the place and time of their life. Of course, weaving together such a history is also often the biggest challenge - at least after getting through brick walls encountered during research. But the reward of a better understanding of one's ancestors is always worth the challenge.

Let's see if we can turn your family mystery into family history! Contact me for a free initial discussion of your challenge

Geographic Specialities
Eastern Kentucky and Central Kentucky.

Additional specialities or search keywords
Kentucky

Repositories
Martin F. Schmidt Research Library at Kentucky Historical Society, Frankfort Kentucky; Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives, Frankfort, Kentucky; Filson Historical Society Library, Louisville, Kentucky; Sons of the American Revolution Genealogical Research Library, Louisville, Kentucky.

Research Time Periods

• 20th Century
• 19th Century
• 18th Century

Affiliations
Association of Professional Genealogists; National Genealogical Society; Kentucky Genealogical Society; Kentucky Historical Society; Kentucky Bar Association.    

Degrees
Juris Doctorate from University of Kentucky. Bachelor of Science in Political Science from University of Kentucky.