1. Service to Our Clients
2. Service to Beneficiaries
3. Finders Staff
4. Additional Notes

1.1. Telephone advice, estimates and quotations will be free of charge or obligation.

1.2. No time spent on 1.1 above will be carried over to be offset against any subsequent instructions from any client.

1.3. Every Budget of Fixed Fee agreed with a client will be used in full on research matters only.

1.4. No part of any Budget or Fixed Fee will be held back or reserved as a profit margin.

1.5. All Budget quotes are aimed at completing a task in the first stage of research (Finders achieve this in around 90% of cases). If a second stage of research is required no further work will go ahead or further charges incurred without the clients specific instructions.

1.6. Disbursements on a Budget or Fixed Fee basis will always be re-charged to the client at cost.

1.7. A Disbursement Fee Limit will be offered to the client and, if set, will be strictly adhered to (no disbursement fees are payable at all when working on a Contingency Fee basis, see 1.12 below).

1.8. All work on obtaining indemnity insurance policies will be free of charge and not paid by or deducted from a Budget or Fixed Fee.

1.9. Finders are paid a small commission by the insurers for each indemnity insurance policy that is taken out (details available on request as commission varies).

1.10. All indemnity insurance monies are held in a separate bank account [Finders (Insurance)].

1.11. Contingency Fee cases that prove negative (ie no heirs are found, the family has died out etc.) will still be reported in full to the client, free of charge. Our report may then be used to secure indemnity insurance where appropriate and with the consent of Finders.

1.12. When research is on a Contingency Fee basis there are no fees, disbursements or other charges payable by the referring solicitors or Estate Custodians, the general Estate or any beneficiary. All contingency fees are deducted, by agreement, from the beneficiary’s net entitlement on distribution of the Estate.

1.13. All work is carried out in accordance with our clients instructions and any fee limits on any charging basis strictly adhered to.

1.14. Confirmation of instructions will be sent in writing on commencement of research and updates on progress sent at regular intervals.

1.15. If a time limit is specified we will always do our utmost to keep to this and notify the client at the earliest possible moment if it does not seem likely that this can be met.

1.16. All confidential information obtained in the course of our work will be held as such and the provisions of the Data Protection Act adhered to.

1.17. Our Data Protection Registration will always be visible to clients and others via our website.

1.18. Our Company Registration will always be visible to clients and others via our website.

1.19. Any company endorsements, qualifications or charitable support will always be visible to clients and others via our website.

1.20. All links, logos or testimonials used on our website or within our advertising will have been used only with the express permission of those concerned and proofs are held at our offices.

1.21. We undertake to provide quotations, charge for our services or negotiate agreements in a professional, fair and ethical way.

1.22. We undertake to provide regular support and donate whenever possible to the charities featured on our website or within our advertising.

1.23. We undertake to keep abreast of any legal or technological developments in our field of work and to understand as far as possible, with the help of our legal advisors where necessary, the implications and requirements of any such developments.

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2.1. Beneficiaries or their representatives will always be treated fairly, courteously and with respect, regardless of race, gender, colour, creed, age or sexual orientation.

2.2. We will endeavour to answer all questions raised promptly and effectively to the satisfaction of the enquirer.

2.3. Only proven and legitimate claimants to an Estate or unclaimed assets will be reported to the Estate Custodians as such. If there is any doubt over the legal claim of any person we may still report their details to the Estate Custodians so as to avoid potential future problems with or claims from any such person.

2.4. In further support of beneficiaries Finders will report on all other aspects of a case, where we have been asked to do so by the Estate Custodians, which may effect the ultimate entitlement of any beneficiary ie. checking for prior claimants, proving branches of a family have died out or otherwise completing all other searches to the satisfaction of the insurer so that a suitable indemnity insurance policy may be obtained.

2.5. If a beneficiary requires personal financial advice we may recommend an Independent Financial Advisor, but would not take or ask for any commission or inducement or any other payment for any such introduction. Finders do not offer financial services or advice.

2.6. If a beneficiary requires a family tree as the result of research we will supply one directly to them free of charge, but only at the conclusion of research or at an appropriate point as decided by the case handler at their discretion. Such family trees will not feature home addresses or contact details of any individuals.

2.7. If a beneficiary wishes to make contact with another family member with whom they have lost contact we may offer to forward a letter on their behalf, but no address or other contact details will be passed on at any time, unless express permission is given in advance. Any letters for forwarding must be left unsealed for our perusal and any threatening, abusive, inappropriate or offensive material will not be forwarded. Finders do not accept any responsibilty for any subsequent disputes of any nature as a result of effecting such contact.

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3.1. Our staff have an obligation to perform their professional duties to the best of their ability and in accordance with their terms of employment.

3.2. Staff are obliged to report any illness or other circumstances to their employer which may affect their ability to carry out their duties effectively.

3.3. Staff are obliged to protect the reputation and good standing of Finders and, wherever possible of the Probate Genealogy industry as a whole.

3.4. Staff will counter any misleading or false statements, detrimental articles or adverse publicity wherever possible.

3.5. Staff are encouraged to resolve any dispute or potential dispute promptly and courteously. If any such dispute cannot be resolved, staff are obliged to report any such situation promptly and in full to their immediate manager or the director.

3.6. Staff should not knowingly promote or endorse any activity or statements which may encourage or be seen to support discrimination on the grounds of race, gender, colour, creed, age or sexual orientation.

3.7. Finders undertake to treat its staff fairly and to fully observe all relevant employment law and rights of its staff.

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4.1 Memberships of genealogical societies or endorsements of services.

In general terms we would advise that, in the first instance, a client or beneficiary checks the promotional material and website of any probate genealogist and look for clarification of any claims as to quality of service, membership of societies or other endorsements and explore data protection and company registration to ensure that these are valid and legitimate.

Please note that membership of genealogical societies may be paid for by individuals who do not need to show any expertise in their field to obtain such membership.

Endorsements of Services or other logos claiming to be proof of quality of service may be misleading. Endorsements may be paid for with no proof of expertise or of quality of service required.

Please be aware that there is no single agreed standard or qualification for probate genealogists in the UK and all claims of membership of societies or logos purporting to prove quality should be checked thoroughly as to their exact meaning.

All logos on Finders website are linked to the websites from where the logos originate, thus enabling clients and beneficiaries to easily check details.

All logos on Finders website are re-produced with permission of the copyright owners.

© Finders 31/3/2004 - 2013