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FAMILY SEARCH / LINEAGE RECONSTRUCTIONBLACKFILE helps establish the current whereabouts of a relative, heir or other family member by reconstructing a sequence of family, documentary, territorial and digital information.
We compare known facts, name variants, archival and open sources, professional activity, related organisations and permissible local information. Every material conclusion is verified independently.
At the first stage it is enough to describe who needs to be found, what is known about the person and why contact needs to be restored.
People change surnames, citizenship, place of residence and occupation. Documents are drawn up in different languages, and information on birth, marriage, adoption, migration or inheritance may be held in different jurisdictions.
For this reason, a search for a relative cannot be built on a name alone. It is necessary to reconstruct the family and chronological sequence, verify matches and exclude persons with similar data.
We confirm a connection through a combination of independent indicators, not a single name match.
Contact ceased after relocation, conflict, a change of name or a prolonged absence of communication.
It is necessary to establish the person, their current status and a possible lawful channel of contact
Relatives lived in different countries, and names and surnames were recorded in several variants.
It is necessary to establish a documented sequence of family connections.
Work is possible only within the limits of the law, the availability of sources, and the rights of the parties involved.
It is necessary to establish current activity and a permissible means of contact without unlawful interference in private life.
It is necessary to reconstruct the circle of possible relatives for a legal or family matter.
A search can begin with incomplete data. The more initial indicators available, the higher the probability of a result and the shorter the timeframe: the quality of the initial information directly affects the cost and whether a match can be confirmed.
A name match is a hypothesis. Kinship is confirmed by a combination of independent indicators
Exact addresses, documents and images of individuals are not published. The step marked in red requires separate agreement
The materials distinguish confirmed information, probable matches, and circumstances that could not be verified.
Variants of first and last name, period of birth, countries of connection, and the features by which the person is distinguished from namesakes.
A sequence of family relationships indicating which sources confirm each link.
Known family, territorial and professional events in verified order.
Country or region, with the date of the last reliable event on which the conclusion relies.
A possible lawful method of contact and a procedure under which contact does not infringe the rights of the person found.
The level of confirmation for each conclusion, contradictions found, and what could not be established.
The result may be confirmation of a country or region without an exact address. BLACKFILE does not disclose contact details or sensitive information where this would be unlawful or would create unjustified risk to the person found.
When contact with a relative has been lost and restoring it requires care, without pressure on the person found.
When it is necessary to establish the circle of relatives or confirm the status of a specific person for an inheritance matter.
When the process requires a documented, verifiable sequence of family connections.
When it is necessary to identify persons connected to the estate and the permissible method of notifying them.
When the family structure is spread across countries and requires reconstruction of the documentary picture.
When it is necessary to confirm a family line for personal, documentary or repatriation purposes.
Задача. Lawful purpose - restoring family contact. Initial information: name, approximate age, city of former residence, and the year of the last conversation. Difficulty: over the intervening years the person may have changed surname and country.
Результат. The search route passed through an archival marriage record, a variant spelling of the surname in the new jurisdiction, and professional activity. The match is confirmed by three independent indicators. The country and region were established, and contact was proposed through an intermediary. Limitation: the exact address was not disclosed.
Задача. Lawful purpose - an inheritance matter. Initial information: name from a document, date of birth, and country of departure. Difficulty: the name is recorded in two transliteration variants, with more than twenty years between events.
Результат. Both spelling variants were checked, a corporate record was found, and confirmation obtained through a court source. The country of residence and current status were established, and a permissible notification procedure was prepared for the legal team. Limitation: part of the period remains without documentary confirmation.
Задача. Legal purpose - confirmation of origin. Initial information: names of grandmother and grandfather, region and period. Complexity: the surname changed twice, documents drawn up in different languages.
Результат. A sequence of four links was reconstructed with the source indicated for each. Two links are confirmed by archival records, one remains probable and is marked as requiring an additional indicator. Limitation: part of the archives are not accessible for external requests.
Задача. Legal purpose - establishing the circle of relatives for probate proceedings. Initial information: data on the deceased and an incomplete list of relatives. Complexity: part of the family resides abroad.
Результат. The circle of possible relatives was established, divided into confirmed and probable. For each, the source, country and level of confirmation are indicated. Materials were provided to the legal team in a structure suitable for further work. Limitation: the status of two persons required an official request, which is carried out by the lawyer.
The scenarios above are composite examples based on typical tasks. They are not descriptions of specific completed projects. BLACKFILE does not guarantee that a person will be found and does not disclose information if this creates a risk for the located party.
The client explains who needs to be found, what is known, and why the connection needs to be reconstructed.
We assess the validity of the task and the absence of signs of harassment or pressure.
We determine what indicators are sufficient to start and what affects the probability of a result.
We build versions based on name variants, countries and periods.
We verify the persons found and separate namesakes.
We reconstruct the sequence of events and family links.
We confirm the connection with several sources, not a single match.
We determine the legal method of contact and a procedure safe for both parties.
We deliver the result with sources, confirmation levels and the limits of the search.
Choose the engagement format based on the number of countries, generations, and the completeness of initial information.
From €2,500
Typically 7-15 business days
The final cost depends on the quality of the initial data, the number of people, generations, countries, languages and the availability of legal sources.
Verification of initial indicators, building a basic family chronology and verification of the main matches.
From €5,000 to €15,000
Usually 15-30 business days
The final cost depends on the quality of the initial data, the number of people, generations, countries, languages and the availability of legal sources.
An extended search with verification across several jurisdictions, spelling variants and independent confirmation of the connection.
On request
Timeframe determined after discussion
The fee is determined after discussion and depends on the number of generations, countries, languages and archive availability.
Work with minimal initial information, in cases of adoption, migration, inheritance or a complex international context.
BLACKFILE assesses the legality and justification of every request. We do not accept matters involving harassment, threats, domestic violence, unlawful acquisition of addresses, circumvention of court restrictions or interference in private life.
In sensitive cases contact may be established through an intermediary or only after the found person's consent. We do not disclose information if doing so may create an unreasonable risk for that person.
It can start, but a single name rarely produces a result: there are almost always other people with the same details. The more additional indicators - period of birth, region, parents' names, profession, last point of contact - the higher the probability of confirming a match. At the first meeting we give an honest assessment of whether the initial information is sufficient to start.
This is one of the main difficulties in family search. A surname may have changed through marriage, adoption, repatriation, or simply been recorded differently after a move into another language environment. We check permissible spelling and transliteration variants and look for a documentary link confirming the transition from one variant to another.
Yes, international search is a typical task. Each jurisdiction has its own archives, registers and legal restrictions: the volume of available information varies considerably. The number of countries directly affects the timeline and cost of the work.
Yes, heir search and reconstruction of the circle of relatives is one of our areas of work. The result is prepared in a structure convenient for a notary or legal team: with the source indicated, the confirmation level noted, and confirmed persons separated from probable ones.
Not always, and this is a matter of principle. The result may be a country or region and an acceptable form of contact. Exact contact details are not disclosed if this would violate the law or create a risk for the person found - in such cases, contact is established through an intermediary or with their consent.
By the intersection of indicators: name and prior variants, parents' names, period and place of birth, countries, occupation, family events and a time sequence without unexplained gaps. A single match remains a hypothesis; a conclusion is drawn only when independent indicators converge on one person.
We provide the client with confirmed information and propose an acceptable procedure for contact. In sensitive situations, the first step is taken by an intermediary, so that the person found has the opportunity to decide whether they are ready for contact.
Yes, and their decision is final. We do not provide the client with information that would allow this refusal to be bypassed, and we do not exert pressure. In such a situation, the result remains the confirmation itself: the person has been found, is alive, and is located in a particular country.
Initial Family Search usually takes 7-15 business days, international search - 15-30 business days. Complex multi-generation reconstruction depends on archive availability; the timeframe is determined after discussion. The count begins after the scope is agreed.
You will receive a report on the work performed: which leads were checked, which sources were used, what could be confirmed, and where the search reached inaccessible archives or a lack of records. We do not present a probable match as the person found, and we indicate in advance where the probability of a result is low.
Information about the client, the purpose of the enquiry and the progress of the search is not disclosed. When contact is made with the person found, the client's name is given only with their consent and in an agreed format.
At the first stage, general information is sufficient. Do not attach documents or photographs - these are requested only after a secure channel has been agreed.
