Ruy A. Cardoso, Certified Genealogist

January 15, 2012

Mr. Page Ring IV
123 Main St.
Sometown, Somestate, 99999

Dear Mr. Ring:

As we discussed in our phone call of last week, you would like me to research the surname and
parentage of Betty (___) Ring, wife of your ancestor Page Ring (1743-1813), of Salisbury,
Essex County, Massachusetts. I understand that you have searched for a marriage record in
various published vital and church records of Salisbury and several neighboring towns in
Massachusetts and New Hampshire, but without success. I also understand that you have
reviewed several periodical indexes, but again with no luck. As a result, you would like me to
extend the search to Essex County probate and land records to see if Betty's identity can be
determined.

In developing a tentative research plan, I have checked available indexes and see that both a Page
Ring and a Betty Ring left probate records, including wills, in the right time and place (Salisbury,
in 1813 and 1814 respectively). Further, there appear to be several Essex County land records
naming a Page Ring, though you mentioned that the Page Ring of interest had a son of the same
name.

Tentative Research Plan

While it is not possible to specify all the details of the research path in advance, I plan to begin
with the probate records to see what clues they offer. It would not, be surprising, for instance,
if a witness to one or both of the wills was a close male relative of Betty (___) Ring. Possibly
the vital records could then help determine if any of those witnesses had a sister named Betty (or
some variation of the name), which in turn could lead to a possible father's probate record.

If that avenue does not yield fairly quick results, then I will next proceed to the land records.
Those records might also provide some clues to the identity of Betty's father, though the nature
of those clues is more difficult to predict before seeing the records themselves. It is possible,
for example, that Page Ring was sold land by his father-in-law at some point, and finding a
statement of their relationship in a deed would be a happy occurrence. Since Betty seems to
have outlived her husband, there may also be land transactions recorded in her name.

Rates, Hours, and Expenses

I will charge you an hourly rate of $__ per hour for this type of work. This rate does not
include out-of-pocket expenses such as copying fees, mailing costs, mileage, tolls, and parking,
which I will also charge you at cost (with the mileage charge at the current IRS rate). I do not
charge for travel time to any of the Boston repositories where I plan to conduct the research
covered by this agreement, though I do charge for the associated expenses. Should a later
agreement make it necessary to travel further afield, then we can discuss appropriate travel costs
at that time.

As you requested, I will limit the amount of time I spend on this project to __ hours. (Depending
on the results, you may decide to proceed with further work after receiving my report.) Of that
time, I expect that approximately __% will be devoted to research and approximately __% will be
devoted to organizing my findings, transcribing relevant portions of documents, and preparing
my report.

I will begin work after receiving: (1) a copy of this agreement signed by you, and (2) a deposit
check for $___ (i.e., 50% of the estimated fee for my time, plus a provision of $___ for
expenses). Based on my current schedule, I expect to send you my research report within three
weeks of receiving these two items. I will include with the report a bill for the remaining balance
and will expect to receive final payment within two weeks after I send that bill.

The remaining paragraphs of this agreement cover a number of other general issues applying to
all of my research projects.

Written Report

Following the completion of my research (within the time constraints you have set on the
project), I will provide you with a written report of my findings and analysis, including copies or
images of the relevant documents. I will exercise my discretion in selecting which records to
include in the report in order to keep it focused, and I will summarize the contents of any
relevant records not included in the report in case you wish to obtain copies of them at a later
time. I will also offer you suggestions for further research as appropriate.

Your Previous Research

So that I will minimize any duplication of work, it is important that you provide me with
information you already have concerning your research problem. This information could
include, for example, research reports prepared by you or by others you have employed, copies
of or links to significant records, and notes on sources or collections you have already searched.
Even with such information in hand, I may find it necessary to check the underlying sources in
order to assess their reliability or how they affect the interpretation of information I find
elsewhere.

Compliance with Relevant Codes of Ethics

I will perform this work in accordance with the codes of ethics of the Board for Certification of
Genealogists (www.bcgcertification.org/aboutbcg/code.html) and the Association of
Professional Genealogists (www.apgen.org/ethics/).

No Guarantee of Results

Because records relevant to your problem may suffer from problems such as unavailability,
illegibility, or inconsistency, I cannot assure you that I will successfully identify any of the
people who are the subjects of this research or any relationships between them. Since I am
providing genealogical research services rather than guaranteed results, you will not consider any
failure to make such identification to be grounds for delaying or withholding payment to me, for
rating my services poorly, or for filing a complaint against me to any relevant body or in any
relevant forum or jurisdiction.

Distressing Information

My research may lead to information that you find distressing in some way. It is not unusual,
for example, to find evidence of illegitimate births, mental illnesses, institutionalizations, criminal
records, or suicides. While I will not emphasize this type of information unless it is relevant to
identifying an individual or a relationship, neither will I conceal it.

Independent Contractor

Under this agreement, I am acting as an independent contractor, not as your employee. This
means that I am responsible for paying all required taxes associated with my income from this
project, that I will use my own equipment, and that I am free to choose both the timing and
location of the research I perform.

Confidentiality

I will hold confidential any non-public information that you provide me in the course of this
project except in the event that I am ordered to produce such information by a court. I will also
treat with discretion any public information directly concerning living persons or their parents,
children, or siblings.

Copyright and Distribution of Report

While I hold copyright to the research report itself (except for the uncopyrightable facts and
public records contained within it), you may distribute up to three copies of it, either paper or
electronic, so long as: (1) you distribute the report in its entirety, including my name and contact
information, and (2) you make a reasonable effort to prevent further distribution by anyone to
whom you provide copies. If you simply refer to part of my analysis and conclusions without
distributing the report itself, you will do so accurately and credit my report as the source.

Additional Use of Report by Me

I may retain paper and electronic copies of the report for my files, and I may further use or
publish any public information included in it or obtained in the course of my research, but only
consistent with the Confidentiality section above. I will not, however, accept fees to provide
these results to other interested persons but will, with your consent, refer them to you for the
information and allow you to determine the terms under which you may decide to share it.

Completeness of Agreement

This letter reflects the full scope of our agreement and replaces any earlier commitments by
either of us. Any additional changes will be effective only if they are also made in writing.

Liability

I will not be liable to you for any acts or omissions in the course of my research for you unless I
act with willful misconduct or gross negligence, nor will I be liable for any incidental or
consequential damages. Further, any claim for damages must be made within three months after
the completion of the research covered by this agreement. In addition, any damages you claim
will be limited to a refund of the amount received by me under this agreement. This agreement
will be governed by and interpreted according to the laws of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts.

Please indicate your acceptance of this agreement by signing one copy and mailing it to me along
with your check payable to Ruy A. Cardoso. Thank you for using my services.

Ruy A. Cardoso, CG(sm)

Certified Genealogist and CG are service marks of the Board for Certification of Genealogists®,
used under license after periodic Board evaluation of the certificant's genealogical work.
Certificate #1003, effective 23 July 2010.

"Regardless of the
impetus which inspires
you to pursue the study
of American genealogy,
one point is clear:
Success and competence
are dependent on both
adequate instructional
guidance and practical
experience. Remember
that a book, no matter
how good, can go only
so far. A good cook
book does not make a
good cook, though it
surely helps."

-- Val D. Greenwood,
The Researcher's Guide
to American Genealogy
(2nd Edition), p. 17,
copyright 1990 by
Genealogical Publishing
Co., Inc.

Sample Agreement

New England Cousins

Ruy Cardoso, Certified Genealogist (SM)