Book a free
30-minute call.
Tell me where you are, and we will go from there.
I respond to every new enquiry within 24 hours.
A straightforward conversation about your family and what an investigation might uncover. No preparation needed, no commitment required, and no charge.
It starts with
a single call.
Most family history investigations begin with almost nothing. A grandparent's name. A birth county and a rough decade. A story that was always just out of reach. In twenty years of research, that has always been enough to start.
The free call is not a sales pitch. It is a working conversation. You tell me what you know, what you have already tried, and what you most want to find out. I tell you honestly what I think is possible, how I would approach it, and what an investigation might realistically cost.
If we are not a good fit, I will say so and point you in a better direction. There is no obligation of any kind.
The call is 30 minutes. It takes place by Zoom or telephone, whichever you prefer. If you are based in Nottingham or anywhere across the East Midlands, I am also happy to come to you.
Request a call back
Not ready to book a slot just yet? Leave your details and I will be in touch within 24 hours to arrange a convenient time.
30-Minute Call
is sent immediately on booking.
What happens on the call
The 30 minutes are structured around your situation and your questions. There is no script and no sales process. This is what the conversation usually covers.
You share what you have
Tell me what you already know, what you have already found, and what questions matter most to you. There is no right or wrong starting point. Most investigations begin with very little.
I tell you what is possible
Based on what you share, I explain the most likely routes the research would take, what records are available, where the gaps tend to be, and what we could reasonably expect to find.
We decide together
If it seems like a good fit, I follow up in writing with a simple scope and a fixed price. No pressure on the call, and no obligation afterwards unless you choose to proceed.
A clear scope, a fixed price
After the call I send a brief written summary of what I will research, what you will receive at the end, and the fixed price. Once you are happy, a 50 per cent deposit is all that is needed to begin. No hourly rates, no surprise invoices, no ambiguity.
No obligation, no follow-up pressure
The call is genuinely free with no strings attached. If you decide not to proceed, or simply want to think it over, you will not receive any chaser emails or follow-up calls. When you are ready, the booking page is here whenever you need it.
Bring whatever you have.
It is always enough to start.
The consultation call is open to anyone curious about their family history. You do not need to have done any research already, and you do not need to know where to begin. These are the situations people most often bring to the call.
If your situation is not listed, book anyway. In twenty years, no consultation has been turned away because someone did not know enough to start.
Starting from almost nothing
A great-grandparent's name, a county, and an era. This is how most investigations begin.
Stuck after doing your own research
You have a tree, but the records have run out or the results do not add up. There is usually more to find.
Irish, Liverpool, or East Midlands roots
Families with roots in Ireland, Liverpool, or across the East Midlands. These are the records I know best.
DNA questions or unknown parentage
Unexpected DNA results, unknown parents, adoption searches, or NPE discoveries. These cases need a different approach.
Looking for a thoughtful gift
A family history investigation makes a meaningful gift for a milestone birthday, retirement, or anniversary.
The person on
the other end of the call
I am Gary Skerritt. I have been researching family histories for twenty years, and I am based in Nottingham. I specialise in UK and Irish genealogy, with particular expertise in East Midlands families, Irish roots, and Liverpool ancestry.
My interest in Irish family history comes from my own background. My father's family is Irish, and navigating the gaps left by the 1922 records destruction is something I have done for my own family as well as for clients. My wife's family gave me an equally thorough grounding in Liverpool genealogy.
Every investigation I take on is handled personally. There is no team, no outsourcing, and no automated research. When you speak to me on the call, I am the person who will carry out the work.
The call takes 30 minutes.
It costs nothing.
Whatever you know, whatever you have already tried, and whatever questions are still unanswered, this is where it starts. Choose a time that suits you and I will be there.