FAQs
Have a question about our services? Take a look below at some that have been asked in the past, if the answer to your question isn't here, feel free to ask!
'What information on my ancestor do I need to provide?'
Honestly, as much as you have! Information that you know to be fact and even family rumours can help. Information such as names and estimates of birth dates are very useful, and information such as places where an ancestor may have lived, spouse names, possible employments can all help with our research. The Passport to the Past team will usually use this as a reference in their own research but they will start from scratch themselves, usually from your own date of birth, name etc. But information like this can help ensure that we are on the right track!
'Can you search for a specific ancestor?'
Yes, we are able to help with specific ancestors, whether you wish for a research report on them (similar to our World War I soldier package) or are needing help with making a connection in your family tree. Feel free to get in contact and we can tailor our services to meet your needs
'How do I attend one of your classes?'
We are based in the UK and our classes are usually held in Surrey, make sure to check our classes page for more information on dates. Our Monday classes are held in Walton on the Hill, to request to join these please get in contact and we can send you some information to come along.
'How long does it take?'
As you can imagine, the world of historical research can be a finicky thing! and because of this depending on the project or package delivery time can differ. We usually say within a month for our smaller packages (individual family members, soldiers etc) and a couple of months for larger packages. If you have a date that you would like the research to be completed by please let us know and we will try to accommodate you. For longer projects one of our team will be in contact to ensure you that work is underway and can give you updates
'Can you research as far back as possible?'
Most families in the UK are traceable back to ancestors into the late 1700s, after this records become more scarce and possibly no longer exist, this can obviously affect successful and accurate research. Factors such as destroyed records, ancestor migration or lack of detailed documentation (ie. its just a name, with no way to clarify it is actually your ancestor!), there are of course work arounds that may end in success, usually this involves visiting local parishes and other physical archives. We are happy to discuss with you what you are looking to find out and any such research is charged at an hourly rate and unfortunately may not always end in success. If you would like to discuss this with us please get in touch!
'Will I be charged if you cannot find my ancestors?'
Unfortunately due to the often challenging nature of historical research we, like every other historical researcher, cannot guarantee 100% success, some ancestors may be lost to time due to any number of factors, usually to destroyed historical documents or an ancestor giving false information (a lot of people did not want to be found!). Sometimes our research packages will contain information on people that cannot fully be confirmed as your ancestor, but many links have been made that may make them so (this will be highlighted as such). Usually we are able to find some sort of information, but each ancestor in a tree will have different amounts of historical documents and information available on them, some people may have lots, some may only have one document and a bunch of hearsay!
Overall our charges are based on the time spent researching, whether it is successful or not. When we are struggling with an ancestor or tree or believe we have reached a complete dead end, we will be in contact to let you know so you can make a decision as to whether you wish to continue with the research. If you decide to cancel, at that point we will only charge at an hourly rate of what has been undertaken and provide you with what we have found.
'Do you offer physical reports?'
We are able to send you a physical copy of our report packages at an extra charge depending on what you are looking for, whether it be a simple binder, booklet etc. If this is something you are interested in please let us know during our communication and we can provide you with costs. These costs can vary depending on the final size of the research package.
'How do I make payments?'
You will be sent an email with an invoice for the amount of your chosen research, we will send two invoices, one at the start of the research for the deposit, and one at the end for the full remaining amount owed.
'How long do the trips last?'
Trip lengths vary depending on the destination and purpose. Most guided history or battlefield trips range from a single day to several days, and bespoke itineraries can be designed to suit your schedule.
'How do your trips differ from other battlefield trips?'
Our trips are research-led and tailored rather than standard tours. They combine on-the-ground historical interpretation with original archival research, often linking personal family history to wider military and social context.
'How often and where do the local history/classes take place?'
Classes and local history sessions are run periodically throughout the year on Monday afternoons at our purpose built classroom in Walton on the Hill, Surrey. We also offer occasional online sessions for those unable to attend in person.
'What do you provide with each profile?'
Each profile includes a researched historical summary, supporting documentation where available, contextual background, and clear narrative interpretation designed to make the findings accessible and meaningful.
'Will my family research privacy be maintained?'
Yes. All personal family research is treated as confidential. Information is only shared with you unless you give explicit permission for it to be used or discussed elsewhere.
'Can you provide bespoke trips for family groups wishing to travel as a private group?
Yes. Private group trips can be arranged and fully tailored to your family’s interests, locations, and historical themes. These can include guided visits, archival insights, and personalised historical interpretation.
Ask us anything!
Get in touch if you want to know more