You took the test.
You got the results.
Now what?
I investigate DNA matches, interpret centimorgan data, and solve family mysteries — combining genetic evidence with twenty years of documentary research. Done entirely for you, by Gary Skerritt.
Your results raised more questions than they answered. That is more common than you think.
Millions of people have taken consumer DNA tests expecting clarity. Most receive a list of names, a set of ethnicity percentages, and a collection of match categories — and no real explanation of what any of it means for their specific situation.
The platforms are designed to sell tests, not to solve mysteries. Making sense of what you have received is a different skill entirely.
- You have a match showing hundreds or thousands of centimorgans and no idea who this person is or how they connect to you
- Your ethnicity results show a heritage you weren't expecting — and you want to understand what it means
- You have a cluster of matches who clearly share ancestry — but you can't identify the family line they belong to
- You have been trying to break through a brick wall in your family tree, and you think DNA might hold the answer
- Your results suggest a family relationship that doesn't match what you know — and the implications feel significant
- You have spent hours in the platform trying to figure it out yourself and you are no closer to an answer
What I do with your results — and why it works.
DNA alone identifies biological relationships. It does not explain them. The explanation requires records: census returns, birth certificates, marriage registers, parish records, immigration documents. Combining the genetic and the documentary is what turns a confusing match list into a clear answer.
Match analysis and centimorgan mapping
I review your complete match list and identify the most significant connections by shared DNA amount, segment data, and relationship categories. Every match above the threshold of significance is documented, placed on a scale, and assessed for what it implies about the relationship. This is the foundation the entire investigation is built on.
Shared match clustering
I group your matches by how they relate to each other — a technique called shared match clustering. Matches who share DNA with each other almost certainly belong to the same family branch. This turns a list of hundreds of names into a map of three, four, or five distinct family clusters, each pointing toward a different branch of your ancestry.
Documentary corroboration
Every genetic conclusion I draw is tested against the documentary record. I search civil registration records, census returns, parish registers, and specialist archives to establish whether the family connections suggested by the DNA can be confirmed — and to build the paper trail that turns a hypothesis into a finding. Genetic evidence and documentary evidence must agree before I draw any conclusion.
Plain-language report and personal walk-through
You receive a complete written report in plain language — not genealogy jargon, not raw data. Every significant match is identified and explained. Every piece of documentary evidence is cited and described. Then we speak. I walk you through everything on a follow-up call, answer every question, and make sure you understand exactly what the evidence shows and what it means.
Your investigation ends with something you can keep.
Not a printout of your raw results. A fully interpreted, carefully written account of what the genetic and documentary evidence found — and what it tells you about your family.
- A plain-language explanation of your DNA results and what they mean for your specific situation
- A centimorgan breakdown — every significant match identified, placed, and interpreted
- A documented family tree for any previously unknown line uncovered during the investigation
- A full evidential summary: every record consulted, cited, and explained
- Anonymised details for any living individuals identified (privacy protected as standard)
- A narrative account of the investigation — the story of what was found, and how
- A personal follow-up call with Gary to walk you through the findings and answer every question
If the investigation identifies significant new family lines, these are researched as part of your case and not charged separately as add-ons.
If your question relates to formal adoption records rather than DNA evidence, the adoption research service may be more relevant.
I combine documentary evidence with DNA interpretation — a combination few regional researchers offer. Most genealogists work with records. Most DNA enthusiasts work with platforms. Doing both properly, and presenting the findings clearly, is what makes a DNA investigation conclusive rather than speculative.
On the methodology.
Gary Skerritt · Meet Your Past · NottinghamEvery investigation is fixed-price. No hourly rates.
No surprise invoices. You see the exact cost confirmed in writing before any payment is made. Every other genealogist in the region either hides their pricing or charges by the hour. I don't, because transparency is the right way to work.
DNA Interpretation and Report
From £449
You have results. You need them explained. I analyse your complete DNA match list, interpret the centimorgan data, and produce a clear written report covering every significant finding.
- Full match list review and centimorgan mapping
- Shared match clustering analysis
- Ethnicity interpretation in context
- Identification of matches requiring further investigation
- Written report in plain language
- Personal follow-up call with Gary
Full DNA Investigation
From £599
For cases where DNA alone will not answer the question. I combine genetic analysis with full documentary research to build a complete evidential picture. This is the investigation that solves the mystery.
- Everything in DNA Interpretation and Report
- Documentary corroboration across civil registration, census and parish records
- New family line research where evidence leads
- Named match investigation with full evidence trail
- Complete case report with source citations
- Personal walk-through call at delivery
DNA and Full Roots Package
From £999
A complete family history investigation integrating DNA evidence with full genealogical research across all family lines. For clients who want both the mystery solved and the full story told.
- Full DNA Investigation
- All eight great-grandparent lines researched
- Complete Heritage Report
- Framed family tree available as add-on
Not sure which tier is right for your situation? Book a free 30-minute call and I will tell you honestly what your case needs — including whether DNA investigation is the right approach at all.
Four steps. You provide the results. I do everything else.
You don't need to know anything about centimorgans, chromosomes, or match clustering to start. You just need your login details for your DNA platform, or a copy of your results. Everything else is my job.
Free 30-minute call Free · no obligation
You tell me what you have and what you are hoping to find. I tell you honestly what I think is possible and which investigation best fits your situation. No pressure, no commitment. You don't even need to have your results in front of you.
Scope agreement
If we decide to proceed, I send a simple written brief confirming exactly what I will investigate, what you will receive, the fixed price, and the expected timeline. You confirm, pay a 50% deposit, and share access to your results. The investigation begins.
The investigation
I research. You wait. I contact you when I find something significant, or at agreed milestones throughout. You are never left wondering what is happening. Most DNA investigations take four to ten weeks depending on the complexity of the match pool and the availability of documentary records.
Report delivery and walk-through call
You receive your complete written report. Then we speak. I walk you through the findings in full, explain every piece of evidence in plain language, answer every question, and make sure the picture is clear. There is no moment where you receive a significant finding without me there to explain it.
Why DNA investigation requires someone who understands both sides of the evidence.
I have been researching my own family's history for twenty years — through Irish records, through Liverpool parish registers, through the exact kind of DNA surprises that send people looking for help. The reason I combine genetic analysis with documentary research is not a service feature. It is how I have always worked, because it is the only approach that produces a conclusion rather than a theory.
DNA expertise
I work across AncestryDNA, 23andMe, MyHeritage, FTDNA, and LivingDNA. I interpret centimorgan values, apply shared match clustering, and cross-reference genetic findings against documentary records — a combination few regional researchers offer.
Documentary depth
Twenty years of research across UK, Irish, and European archives. Civil registration records, census returns, parish registers, military files, and specialist collections. The documentary record is what turns a DNA theory into a confirmed finding.
Plain language
Every report is written for the person who commissioned it, not for genealogists. Every centimorgan value, every shared match cluster, every documentary source is explained in language that makes the conclusion clear — not impressive-sounding.
Fixed pricing
Confirmed in writing before any payment is made. No hourly rates. No ambiguity. I take a small number of cases at any one time — every investigation receives my full personal attention from start to finish.
"DNA raises questions. Documentary research answers them. My job is to do both — and to present what I find in a way that actually makes sense to the person who has been wondering about it, sometimes for years."Gary Skerritt · Meet Your Past · Nottingham
Questions about DNA investigation, answered plainly.
Click any question to read the full answer.
No. If you have already tested with AncestryDNA, 23andMe, MyHeritage, FTDNA, or LivingDNA, I work directly with your existing results. If you have not yet tested, I will advise you on which platform gives the best match pool for your specific question before you spend anything on a test.
A centimorgan (cM) is the unit used to measure the amount of DNA shared between two people. The more centimorgans you share with a match, the more closely related you are. Interpreting centimorgan values correctly — and understanding how they vary within expected ranges — is the foundation of any DNA investigation. I explain every significant cM value in plain language as part of the written report.
An unexpected close match — someone sharing roughly 1,700 cM or more — almost always indicates a first-degree relationship: parent, sibling, or child. The investigation begins by establishing exactly how that person connects to your known family tree, and whether any documentary records explain or confirm the connection. This is one of the most common reasons people commission a DNA investigation.
DNA investigations occasionally reveal unexpected family information — a previously unknown sibling, a non-paternity event, a family secret that was deliberately kept. I handle every discovery with the same care I would want for my own family. Whatever the evidence shows, I will tell you clearly, honestly, and without judgement. Nothing in twenty years of research has changed the way I approach this: the truth belongs to you.
Most investigations take four to ten weeks, depending on the complexity of the match pool, the availability of documentary records, and the depth of corroboration required. I keep you updated at agreed milestones throughout, so you are never left wondering what is happening.
The investigation I provide is a genealogical and evidential service, not a legal one. The report documents genetic and documentary evidence clearly with full source citations, but it is not a legal document. If you need DNA evidence for a specific legal purpose, I can discuss what the investigation can establish and advise on any additional steps that may be required.
Yes. DNA investigations are conducted entirely remotely. I access your results through your chosen platform and work with documentary archives online. I work with clients across the UK and internationally. Where you are located has no bearing on the investigation.
The DNA and Full Roots Package combines a complete DNA investigation with full genealogical research across all family lines, producing a Heritage Report that holds the complete picture. It is also possible to commission these as separate investigations — beginning with the DNA question and deciding about a wider family history once that is resolved.
Your results have been sitting there long enough. Let's find out what they actually mean.
The free consultation call takes thirty minutes. You tell me what you have and what you are hoping to understand. I tell you honestly what I think is possible, which investigation fits your situation, and whether DNA is the right approach at all.
There is nothing to prepare. Bring your results if you have them. If you don't, bring your questions.