How do I start?
To compile an actual family tree from a specific date onwards is not an easy task. Supporting information is usually required as a starting point. Information like a full name, date & place of birth or death is useful.
Obtaining a Death Notice is often the most useful document in family tree research. Death notices are relatively easy to source in South Africa and often contain additional information like the exact date of birth, birthplace and names of any wife and children.
If you are not able to provide us with this initial information to conduct a search, you can access NAAIRS, a national database, to obtain specific references of likely files relating to your family members. Once you have this initial information, we can proceed from that starting point.
The web address of NAAIRS is:
For persons born in the Cape Province of South Africa (and earlier in the Cape Colony) and those who have died up to and including 1958, you would need to choose the files in the section KAB (Kaapse Argief Bewaarplek). These are the ones preserved at the Cape Archives in Cape Town where we do most of our research.
Records for those who have died after 1960 are held at the Master of the High Court in Cape Town:
www.e-family.co.za (Use option CDNI (Cape Death Notice Index) by clicking on C.D.N.I. from the choices on the left side on the home page.
What if I need documents in provinces other than the Cape?
Files relating to persons who died elsewhere in S.A. are kept in relevant main Archives in the other Provinces. We can refer you to reliable and competent colleagues in those centres who could undertake to do your research.
Researcher rates and payment methods
Our research charge is per document and includes access, transcription and transmission of the document via the internet. We personally visit the repositories and search on your behalf. Currently digital photography of archived documents is prohibited at the State Archives in Cape Town, but not at other Provincial Archives. We therefore provide a professionally typed transcription service. This is also ensures accuracy, as the documents are personally transcribed from source.
Payments from local clients within SA can be remitted by cheque, but direct electronic bank transfer is preferred. Local customers in South Africa can contact us directly to discuss payment options and rates.
International clients
Documents like the Death Notice Facsimile are £5/$10 per document/file, but if there is any other additional genealogical information found in the same file (e.g. a Will), we also provide a summary of this free of charge.
Summaries of anything else for example a will, liquidation and distribution file etc which are independently sourced, are charged at £5/$10 per summary.
There is a minimum order of £10/$20. Bulk rates can be arranged if large numbers of documents are required and is a very cost effective method for large orders.
We accept cheques/cash/postal orders in Pounds at our London business address. Payments from other countries/currencies outside the UK/Ireland can be discussed individually as required.
"Research your roots, find out where your ancestors were born, trace their descendants and build your family tree from the historical facts you unearth" Graham Lloyd, 2012
