FAQS
Questions and Answers
- Transcription and translation of your German letters, diaries, church records, vital records, photographs, postcards, newspapers, and more
- Reading the Old German Handwriting Online Course: Learn to read the words of your ancestors! (Transcription)
- German for Genealogists Online Course: Learn to translate the words of your ancestors! (German language)
- The Magic of German Church Records Book: Learn to extract your ancestor’s information from church records without speaking German.
- Tips and Tricks of Deciphering German Handwriting Book: Learn a genealogy translator’s tricks of the trade for working with the old German handwriting.
- Premium Membership: Get help with your tricky handwritten words on your German records once a week in Katherine Schober’s live “office hours”.
- Research: As I do not do research, please check out my partner Legacy Tree Genealogists. Germanology community members receive $50 off select projects at the link here.
Translation time depends on the length of your project and my current work load. Time required for translation will be stated with your quote. Contact us here.
Rates are on a per hour basis. Please e-mail your document to me for an exact quote (see below for e-mailing instructions). I transcribe and translate approximately 275 handwritten words per hour. Rates are flexible and vary according to turnaround time and amount of specialization involved. Documents with fewer than 250 words are subject to a minimum fee.
Documents can be sent using Wetransfer.com to the e-mail address: to katherine_schober@germanologyunlocked.com. They can also be sent directly to the e-mail address, although WeTransfer is helpful for multiple or large documents.
A small deposit fee is required to hold your spot on my project list. The remaining payment is due upon completion of the project. Payment is accepted via PayPal (small PayPal fee), Venmo, or Zelle bank transfer (no fees).
- Venmo: Click Here
- PayPal : Click Here (client is asked to pay the ca. 3% fee PayPal charges)
- If you would prefer to pay by Zelle, please contact me for details.
- A clear copy of the text to be translated (please ensure that I am able to zoom in on the file – this means it must be scanned in high resolution – at least 375 DPI)
- The entire page that your record is on. By sending the entire page (and not just a cropped image of your ancestor’s record), this helps me to get a better idea of that particular person’s handwriting and provides more context for the document itself)
- If an entire page of records, an indication of the record you would like translated (either by marking it on the actual document or describing it in your e-mail, e.g. “the second to last record on the left page”).
- The purpose of the text and whether it is for publication
- When you need the translated text returned, if urgent (may be subject to a rush fee)
- Names of previously-researched people and/or towns related to your document (I will always double-check everything, but having any context beforehand can be very helpful with handwritten documents)
For more information, see 5 Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Genealogy Translation. I look forward to working with you!