Genealogist
Family history research
Who am I, what am I doing, and what's the purpose?
I am a private russian genealogist-researcher, Boris Bondarev. I'm from Moscow. Studying genealogy since 1988. Since 1995, a member of the Historical and Genealogical Society in Moscow.
I am engaged in the search for ancestors and the restoration of family history. I help preserve family relics: digitize home archives, restore old photos, write down family legends, recipes, etc.
The most important question is why am I doing this, and who needs it? The answer to it deserves a whole article, but I'll try: the whole history of the world is not the history of kings and nobles, it is a story of individuals. We all have ancestors, our “roots,” and we are the sum of all these people. Even if we did not know our great-great-grandfather, our grandfather knew and loved him, and we knew and loved our grandfather. This is our direct connection to the past. When you recognize it, the boring pages of history will become something very personal and important. Driving past a nameless field, somewhere in the country, you will want to stop, because you will know that your great-grandfather died on this field, protecting our land from the Nazis. Or from that village, your other great-grandfather was expropriated and deported to Siberia, where your grandfather was born. All this is very private knowledge, but if we don't know it, then who we are in that world? What connects us with this land, with other people?
That's why I return knowledge about ancestors to those, who value its importance.
Prices of genealogical research
Direct line search for 4 generations
The research is conducted along the direct male line, starting from a particular ancestor (for ex. your grandfather).
I will searching for his:
1) Father
2) Grandfather
3) Great-grandfather
4) Great-great-grandfather
(4 direct ancestors)
Fixed price, depending on the region:
-
Search in the European part of Russia and Belarus - 120,000 roubles (~$1343). In case of failure, the prepayment is refunded.
-
Urals (UFO) and Southern Russia (SFO) - 180,000 (~$2015) roubles. In case of failure, the prepayment is refunded, minus 30,000 roubles (~$336).
-
Siberia (SFO, Far East), Caucasus (SKFO), and Central Asia (Kazakhstan, etc.) - 240,000 roubles (~$2686). In case of failure, the prepayment is refunded, minus 60,000 roubles (~$672).
50% prepayment. In case of failure, it is fully refunded (or partially, depending on the number of ancestors found).
Jews, Armenians, Schismatics, and other inherently challenging searches - the same cost applies, but in case of failure, the mandatory part of the prepayment is not refunded.
All overhead expenses are included.
Duration - from 6 months.
Complete search for 3 generations
The research is conducted along all lines (paternal and maternal) from a particular ancestor (for ex. your grandfather):
I will searching for his:
1) Father and mother
2) Paternal grandfather and grandmother
3) Paternal great-grandfather and great-grandmother from his grandfather
4) Paternal great-grandfather and great-grandmother from his grandmother
5) Maternal grandfather and grandmother
6) Maternal great-grandfather and great-grandmother from her grandfather
7) Maternal great-grandfather and great-grandmother from her grandmother
(14 direct ancestors)
Fixed price, depending on the region:
-
Search in the European part of Russia and Belarus - 420,000 roubles (~$4700). In case of failure, the prepayment is refunded.
-
Urals (UFO) and Southern Russia (SFO) - 630,000 roubles (~$7050). In case of failure, the prepayment is refunded, minus 105,000 roubles (~$1175).
-
Siberia (SFO, Far East), Caucasus (SKFO), and Central Asia (Kazakhstan, etc.) - 840,000 roubles (~$9400). In case of failure, the prepayment is refunded, minus 210,000 roubles (~$2350).
50% prepayment. In case of failure, it is fully refunded (or partially, depending on the number of ancestors found).
Jews, Armenians, Schismatics, and other inherently challenging searches - the same cost applies, but in case of failure, the mandatory part of the prepayment is not refunded.
All overhead expenses are included.
Duration - from 12 months.
Biographical or thematic search (for example, nationality-based search).
By agreement, depending on the initial data, desired results, and deadlines.
Hourly payment. Unlike other search options, if you wish, you can decide what and where I should search.
Advantages of working with me
Accuracy of results
Every event is confirmed by copies of documents and references to sources.
Official contract
All payments and expenses are made via checks, through the cash register. An official contract is provided. As a sole proprietor, I am personally liable for the work with all my assets (unlike a limited liability company).
Results even in case of failure
Even if the search ends without success, you will receive a report with a complete list of processed documents and a full refund (see pricing section).
Payment installment options
Payment installments are available for all research, with a schedule that suits you.
Online access upon full payment
Upon full payment, you will have access to study the originals of the found documents in your personal account, without waiting for the completion of the research.
Money-back guarantee
There is a money-back guarantee if, within 3 years, at least one significant error is discovered that calls into question the constructed family tree.
Часто Задаваемые Вопросы
As a minimum, you need any document, confirming the place and date of birth of your ancestor before 1917, from which you want to start the search. If not, you could give me an entry from the database https://pamyat-naroda.ru/ as a starting point.
If we start the research from the date after 1917, and you don't have documents confirming kinship over the last 100 years, then you will need to give me a copies of death certificates for your died relatives, and a copies of the marriage and birth certificate from you and your other relatives. As well, as powers of attorney for me, to request missing data from the registry offices and archives. I will give you the correct template.
Ideally, one should know as much as possible about your ancestors before and after 1917:
-
Names and surnames (including maiden names).
-
Years of life, place of birth and residence.
-
Has anyone served in the army or state service?
-
Property status until 1917 (real estate, etc.).
-
Information about relatives (wives, husbands, children, brothers, and sisters, etc.).
-
Class affiliation (peasant, townsman, nobleman, etc.).
-
Religion.
-
Education of family members and places of study.
-
Places of work in different years.
-
Awards (military, civil, state).
The more information you have - the faster your research will progress.
An important point: the starting point in the research is the oldest documented evidence that you have. If we start the search "from a certain Maria, from the village of Nefedovo," since, according to family legend, she is your great-great-grandmother. But what if it turns out that she did not exist at all, or she lived in a different place, or she had a different name (wich she didn't like)? This is a common issue with family legends. I work for results and guarantee the accuracy of the information I found. Therefore, the search must begin with a document.
It depends on what is preserved at archives in your ancestors regions. For example, for peasants, most often limit the beginning of the XVIII century, but there are exceptions, when the family tree can be extended until the end of the XVII and even the beginning of the XVI century.
Even if the archives in your region are poorly preserved, it is almost always possible to reach at least the end of the XVIII - beginning of the XIX century. For all our ancestors, since this period, at least something has been preserved. To be true, in some cases such searches may require spending several months in the archives and run out of budget or out of time before the goal is reached. That might be the main and only problem.
In some cases. It all depends on the purpose, scope of the study, as well as the settlement of your ancestors. In an ordinary search, most of the preparation for archival trips and the solution of simple questions occurs through mail requests, so that by the most expensive part of the study (archival trip) I will already know what I will need, and where to get it, without spending precious time in the archive.
If you speed up the search, then there will be no time for such deep preparation. I'll have to solve all the issues on the spot. This will result in longer and more frequent archival trips. It will be much more expensive, but possible.
It mostly depends on the type of study (see "Prices" section above).
In general, the results of the study are:
-
Computer genealogical base with your family tree.
-
Copies of all documents obtained as a result of the study.
-
Digital (or paper, for additional price) album on the history of your family.
-
Complete family tree or one of its branches.
I search across the entire former Russian Empire / USSR. Business trips to other countries (including Europe) are possible. Most often - to central Russia, Belarus, the Baltic countries and Poland. I work with Ukraine through partners, due to entry restrictions for Russian citizens.
If your ancestors really had foreign roots - I can find documentary evidence. But if not - at least you will know their true origins. In addition, you need to keep in mind, that not every confirmation is suitable for the embassy. You need to ask them first, what kind of document is suitable in your case, and then I will search for you!