In support of our objectives

  • Promote and maintain high standards of professional and ethical conduct.
  • Encourage best practices in client services and business models.
Council for the Advancement of Forensic Genealogy

Standards Of Practice and Conduct

As a member of the Council for the Advancement of Forensic Genealogy, I agree to support the mission and vision of the organization and to:
Adhere to these Standards Of Practice and Conduct;

  • Not take a forensic genealogy case on a speculative (“spec”), contingent, percentage, or outcome-based fee agreement as many jurisdictions have found this constitutes a conflict of interest;

  • Not “recruit” beneficiaries or heirs for my own business, for other firms, or for attorneys;

  • Strive for the highest level of professional and ethical conduct;

  • Strive for the highest level of truth and accuracy in all phases of my work, including but not limited to client relations advertising, fees and payments, and representation of my experience, education, and credentials;

  • Act in the best interest of my Client;

  • Undertake Client work only upon completion of a written agreement, client contract, or retention agreement which expresses in sufficient detail the scope of the project, fees and charges, deadlines, and other pertinent details;

  • As far as legally and reasonably possible, I will protect the privacy of my Client and that of living people discovered in my research or named in my reports;

  • Provide factual reports supported by documentation and complete source citations in accordance with currently accepted standards of the profession, insofar as they do not conflict with applicable law or the rules of evidence that apply to the forensic matters that I handle, giving proper credit to those from whom I receive information;

  • Present opinions that are reasonably based on the proper types of evidence, reached through sound deductive processes, and presented in rational form;

  • Refrain from withholding or suppressing information that may be of interest to my Client or affect the outcome of a project;

  • Not knowingly violate copyright or other local, state, or federal laws;

  • Comply with all federal, state, and local business licensing and reporting requirements.
Adopted 14 June 2011, Revised 26 June 2011
©2011-2013 Council for the Advancement of Forensic Genealogy. All rights reserved.
2101 Cedar Springs Road   Suite 1050,  Dallas,  Texas  75201 | email:  info@forensicgenealogists.org |
Council for the Advancement of Forensic Genealogy
a professional business league