For many people, the question of an unknown biological father is not just about names or records. It is about identity, medical history, and understanding where you come from. The uncertainty can feel overwhelming, especially if you believe there is little or no information to work with. The good news is that DNA has changed what is possible. Even when traditional records are silent, there is often a clear and practical place to begin. Start With What You Know Before testing

Reaching out to a genetic genealogist is rarely a casual decision. Most people arrive with a mix of hope, hesitation, and a lot of unanswered questions. Sometimes they’re searching for a biological parent. Sometimes they’re an adoptee trying to understand where they come from. Other times, they’ve hit a genealogical brick wall so solid that nothing else seems to work. If you’ve ever wondered what actually happens when you work with a professional genetic genealogist, here’s a

When people receive their DNA results, the first reaction is often a mix of curiosity and confusion. Pages of names, numbers, and unfamiliar relationships appear, and it’s not always obvious what matters and what doesn’t. This post walks through how I approach DNA match analysis at a high level. Not every case follows the exact same path, but the overall framework stays consistent. The goal is always the same: to turn raw DNA data into something meaningful, usable, and ground

And How I Approach Uncertain Outcomes One of the hardest truths about DNA work is this: Not every case ends with a clear answer. If you are starting a DNA search, especially one involving unknown parentage or missing family connections, it is natural to assume that DNA will eventually reveal everything. After all, DNA feels definitive. Scientific. Certain. But real-world DNA analysis does not always work that way. Why Some DNA Cases Remain Unresolved DNA does not exist in a v

One of the first questions people ask when starting a DNA investigation is simple and completely understandable. “How long will this take?” The honest answer is that DNA investigations do not follow a fixed timeline. Some cases move quickly. Others unfold slowly, in layers. Most fall somewhere in between. Understanding why timelines vary can help reduce frustration and set realistic expectations from the beginning. Why DNA Investigations Do Not Have a Set Timeline DNA analys

When someone reaches out because they don’t know who one of their biological parents is, the details are always unique. Every story has its own history, emotions, and unanswered questions. And yet, after working many of these cases, certain patterns appear again and again. Not because people are the same, but because human stories tend to echo one another in quiet ways. Here are some of the most common patterns I see in unknown parentage cases and why recognizing them can ma

Not that long ago, genealogy meant paper. Census records, birth certificates, marriage licenses, faded photographs, and hours spent scrolling through microfilm. For many families, those records were enough to build a solid family tree. For others, they left long stretches of unanswered questions. Today, DNA has become one of the most powerful tools available to genealogists. It does not replace traditional research, but it changes what is possible, especially when records are