Each reader is allocated a desk with a computer terminal and microfiche reader. There are also several microfilm readers in the various search rooms. Their Standard Search fee to research a specific ancestral line is 185 sterling. Some private researchers charge less, and English-based organisations much more. If more than one line requires to be searched then the rates increase accordingly.
Most professionals are prepared to offer a free estimate in advance.
It problems are encountered at an early stage, most professionals would abort the search and simply charge for the work completed. Doing it Yourself From a Distance The Internet has revolutionised this means of researching family trees. In time, digitised records will become available online starting with the 1891 Census. These are indexes covering the OPRs, and the statutory birth and marriage certificates from 1855 to 1875. Most of these are in respect of mailing lists and newsgroups.