Genealogy services: Belgium, France, Italy
Discover the history of your family
Genealogy is the science that focuses on the study of lineages. It is used to find archival documents that provide evidence of these lineages within the same family.
What is the point?
Understanding our origins is essential for making sense of our identity, reconnecting with lost family ties or heirs, shedding light on health issues through DNA, and preserving the memory of our ancestors to pass on to future generations. There are many motivations that can lead us to explore genealogy.
How does it work?
The key lies in information. Our ancestors left traces in various documents such as civil registration records, parish archives, military records, notarial documents, tax records, as well as in newspapers of the time. These acts, whether religious or administrative, offer us the opportunity to trace our history, provided that these archives have been preserved, which is not always guaranteed.
Who are my clients?
If everyone can be interested, my services cover the following geographical area: Belgium, France, and Italy, with limitations depending on the regions and types of archives.
When a family's roots extend beyond this region, I cannot continue the research, but I can recommend a fellow genealogist who is able to carry on the search if you wish.
What is the cost?
To begin with, it is essential to identify your needs and the scope of the research. I suggest you contact me by email or phone to discuss your project.
After our discussion, I will conduct a preliminary analysis to assess the feasibility of the research. Then, I will get back to you with a free quote that specifies the cost, the number of hours, the necessary duration, as well as any potential travel expenses.
A summary of the suggested rates is available and presents the different services of GénéaLéo.
Any other questions? Check the FAQ Get a free quote
My main services
Family genealogy
Several research formats are available. The most common method for exploring your genealogy is to follow the direct lineage in order to trace your ancestors.
You can choose to conduct a comprehensive search of your ancestors or focus on the lineage of women (cognatic) or men (agnatic).
It is also possible to include collateral branches to identify your distant cousins.
Biography
I trace the history of your ancestors. I first examine their roots and immediate lineage in order to better understand the family background.
Then, I conduct research in various types of archives: civil status, wills, professional records, photographs, old press, population registers, military documents, land registries, mortgages, etc.
I also highlight the historical, social, economic, cultural, and geographical context in which this person lived.
Search for a location
Tracing the history of a place? It's possible!
House, farm, building or castle: from the 19th century onwards, dwellings in Belgium and France have been recorded in the land register. This details the plots, their boundaries, the names of the owners, and the value of the properties.
It is a veritable goldmine for uncovering the possessions of your ancestors.
My other services
Succession genealogy
Are you a notary, lawyer, insurer, or even the heir searching for all the beneficiaries of an estate?
I am at your disposal to assist you and reconstruct the complete family tree of the deceased.
I can provide genealogical evidence to establish the rights of the heirs identified in the context of the succession process.
Street Naming and the History of a Street
The chronology of a street, its name changes, its development over the centuries, as well as the various residents and traders who have contributed to the vibrancy of this place.
The cadastral maps from Popp, Cassini, Vandermeulen, and Géoportail are all tools that allow for a highly accurate tracing of the changes that have occurred in this locality.
Emigration
Would you like to explore the journey of one or more individuals who have emigrated over the centuries?
This research, which I am presenting to you in the form of a personalised report, will allow you to discover their history, often marked by events such as epidemics, wars, natural disasters, or geopolitical upheavals like revolutions, forcing them to flee to survive.
The Belgian foreigner's file records approximately 2 million individuals who emigrated between the 19th and 20th centuries, thus providing a valuable source of information for tracing these migration paths.
Conservation and digitisation
Keep your personal archival documents safe, such as diplomas, certificates, letters, photographs, and other items of significant family value.
Then share your digital files with your loved ones with ease.
DNA Research
After taking a DNA test, you wish to use the results to find your genetic cousins and explore your common ancestors. This scientific and biological method merges traditional genealogy with DNA analysis, thereby ensuring the accuracy of classic genealogical research. It also allows for the revelation of unknown family relationships and the discovery of distant cousins.
Genealogical support
You have already started your research and need occasional assistance to obtain precise information or to overcome obstacles in your genealogical investigation. We will define together the scope of the intervention and the number of hours required, based on a personalised quote.
Postal historical survey
You have come across postcards, letters, or other epistolary exchanges in your archives and wish to establish the connections between the correspondents.
I offer you a study that will immerse you in the lives of these individuals to trace their journey.
Nobility
As we uncover our ancestors in our family trees, it sometimes happens that noble lineages are revealed, thus opening up new avenues for research.
I can assist you in exploring historical sources (Chérin, Hozier, Dossiers bleus) to authenticate and document the nobility of your lineage: origin of the title, coats of arms, and noble genealogy.
The analysis of the nobility allows us to place a family's journey within its social, political, and economic context, while explaining the reasons for its rise or decline.
Research in the press
Do you want to discover fascinating stories about your ancestors and trace their journey? This quest is made for you.
Thanks to the archives, it is sometimes possible to find mentions of our ancestors in publications, whether they are national, regional, or specialised, spanning several centuries. Prepare to be surprised.