During a free initial consultation of approximately twenty minutes, we can discuss your requirements and expectations and review any documents or prior research you are happy for me to use as part of our working arrangement. It may be necessary to conduct a feasibility study to ascertain if certain records are available for further study as well as checking any of the information supplied to ensure its accuracy.

Once your requirements have been clearly defined, I shall submit a no-obligation quote for your consideration. On acceptance of this quote, I will issue a contract, which confirms our obligation to one another, with an invoice for 50% of the quoted cost; the balance being payable on completion of the work agreed.

I shall commence work on your behalf on receipt of payment and a signed contract and will provide regular updates as to progress and discussion of future steps depending on the nature of the research.

As you may well appreciate, during many types of archival practice and historical research, distressing incidents may arise. I will ask at the outset if you wish to be informed of any such discoveries. For example, research may uncover sensitive material relating to illegitimacy, adoption or bigamy, criminal activities or medical facts such as insanity or cause of death. Please be assured that such matters will, as in all things, be handled in a discreet and sensitive manner.

Frustratingly, occasions do occur when little historical information is forthcoming. There may be several reasons for this, for example, a change of name (property/place/person), incomplete record sets, uncatalogued material or record destruction are just a few possible scenarios. 

Once my research is complete, a copy of the report is submitted to you in hard copy format, of which you become the owner. However, the information included therein remains the copyright of Archive Angel, and I respectfully request that permission is obtained in order to publish any part of it in any format, printed or electronic with an appropriate credit to Maxine Willett, Archive Angel. This helps to protect my professional integrity and credits Archive Angel with having completed the research. 

I charge a rate of £50 - £70 per hour for archival consultancy, individual research, analysis and report preparation, depending on the nature of your enquiry. For extensive projects, a schedule of payments can be agreed or a fixed budget to work to. 

Additional expenses could include ordering copies of documents at cost price (for example, birth, marriage and death certificates cost £11.00 (hardcopy) or £7 (pdf) or £2.50 (digital) from the General Register Office or purchase of digital licence) or a charge for travel expenses (45p a mile) should I need to visit an archive repository on your behalf. Overnight accommodation costs would also be charged to you the client. However, please be aware that no visits to such institutions will be undertaken without prior discussion. All expenses will be itemised and receipts for same included with the next due invoice.

I accept payment by bank transfer, PayPal or UK cheque in British pounds.

BACS payments can be made to my HSBC bank account: Name: Maxine Willett; 

Sort code 40-10-00; Account number: 82782103. When submitting a payment electronically, please provide your SURNAME as a reference. Any fees incurred for international or domestic bank transfer are the responsibility of the client.

By Paypal – Log in to www.paypal.com and select the money option. The e-mail address for sending payment to is maxannw@gmail.com. Any fees incurred for international payments are the responsibility of the client.

By cheque – Please make cheques payable to Maxine Willett and send to the address stated on the invoice.

All work is undertaken in accordance with the ARA Code of Ethics

Public and products liability cover is in place at a level of £2,000,000, provided by Aviva Insurance Ltd.  

Once the work has been completed, I ask all clients to complete a short feedback form, so I can evaluate the service I provide to ensure I am meeting, if not exceeding, client expectations and how I can continue to improve. I would like to publish a short testimonial from your feedback form on my website and other social media platforms dependent on your permission. It is your right, as per the Privacy Policy, to authorise this or not.

I should like to thank you for considering Archive Angel and I look forward to hearing from you.