Everything you need to know before getting in touch. If your question isn't answered here, please don't hesitate to email me.
Usually within a few hours during UK business hours. Always within 24 hours, even at weekends. If you haven't heard back, please check your spam folder.
Yes — if you'd like to see the quality of my work before deciding to proceed, I'm happy to transcribe a short passage from your document free of charge. This gives you a genuine sense of how I handle the handwriting, how I present uncertain readings, and whether my approach suits what you need. Just ask when you get in touch.
Note: this is separate from the preview you receive once the transcription is complete — where I send you the first page (or 25% of shorter documents) as a PDF before any payment is made.
Yes — if you need a document urgently, I can usually accommodate rush requests for a small additional fee (typically 25–50% extra depending on timeline). Please mention this when requesting your consultation.
If I encounter unexpected complexity while transcribing, I'll contact you before exceeding the quoted price. You can choose to proceed at a revised rate or cancel with no charge.
For most documents I can give a reliable free quote from the images alone. However, some documents — multi-page wills with Latin probate clauses, heavily abbreviated records, or documents in poor condition — need a thorough evaluation before I can quote accurately. In those cases I offer a paid assessment at £25, which covers up to an hour of detailed examination. If you decide to proceed, the £25 is deducted from your final invoice. If you decide not to proceed, the fee covers my time and there is no further obligation. I'll always tell you upfront whether a paid assessment is needed.
Once your transcription is complete, I'll email you the first page (or approximately 25% of shorter documents) as a PDF preview. This allows you to verify the quality, accuracy, and that I've understood your document correctly before any payment is made.
Once you're satisfied, payment is made via PayPal (which handles all currencies automatically) or by bank transfer if you prefer. I then immediately send you a Google Docs link to the complete transcription, viewable on any device without needing specialist software.
For very large projects (over £100), I can arrange a 50% deposit with the balance due on completion if preferred.
Payment is via PayPal, which accepts all currencies and handles conversion automatically. Bank transfer is also available for those who prefer it. There is no surcharge for either method.
Absolutely. I quote in British Pounds (£), but PayPal converts automatically so you pay in your own currency. For reference: a typical will transcription (£50–85) equals roughly $65–110 USD or $100–170 AUD — competitive with UK-based services and often significantly less than US equivalents.
Absolutely — most of my clients are in the USA, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand researching British, Irish, and Scottish ancestry. Being based in England, I am ideally placed to understand UK historical documents. Time zones work in your favour: send your document in the evening (your time) and I'll have your quote ready by the next morning.
I specialise in English-language documents and can handle the Latin phrases commonly found in English legal records. For documents primarily in other languages, I can recommend specialist translators.
No — photographs or scans are perfectly fine, and most clients send images taken on a smartphone. Just make sure the images are clear and in focus. For advice on getting the best photographs, see the Pricing page which includes a full guide to photographing your documents.
I'll transcribe everything that's clearly legible and mark any uncertain readings as [?text], or [?...] for sections that are genuinely illegible. You will always know exactly what is definite and what is uncertain.
If significant portions are illegible — due to fading, water damage, poor scan quality, or extremely cramped handwriting — I'll discuss this with you before beginning work. You may need a higher quality scan, or it may be worth knowing upfront that a complete transcription isn't possible from the available image. I will always be honest about limitations rather than guessing.
Most documents are completed within 2–5 working days. Complex or lengthy documents may take longer — I'll give you an estimated completion date when I send your quote. Rush service is available if you need something urgently.
I specialise in documents from 1550–1900, covering secretary hand, court hand, and all the major English historical scripts. I can also work with earlier medieval documents and more recent 20th century handwriting. If you're unsure whether your document falls within my range, just send me a photograph and I'll let you know.
My specialism is handwritten documents, but I can also transcribe old printed documents that use archaic typefaces or Gothic blackletter fonts which can be difficult to read without specialist training.
No — I am a transcriber, not a professional genealogist. My service is accurately reading and typing what is written in your document. If helpful, I can provide basic historical context (identifying dates, legal officials, or place names where verifiable) as a separately priced add-on, but I do not trace family lines, build family trees, or conduct archival research. I am happy to recommend professional genealogists if that is what you need.
Yes — as an optional add-on I can provide a plain English summary explaining what the document says in modern terms: key people, relationships, bequests, and legal provisions set out clearly. This is available for wills, deeds, and most legal records at an additional fee of £15 (short documents, 1–2 pages) or £20 (longer documents).
Please note: the plain English summary is for general reference and ease of understanding only. It should not be relied upon for any legal, financial, or genealogical purpose without reference to the full diplomatic transcription.
The standard prices are for transcription only — reading and faithfully typing what is written in your document. If you would like additional historical context, such as identifying legal officials, verifying dates, or researching people and places mentioned, this can be arranged as a separate add-on service (typically £20–40 per hour). Please note this is not genealogical research or family tree building, but contextual information to help you understand your document more fully.
I work primarily via email to give each enquiry the proper attention it deserves and to keep a clear record of our discussion. Please contact me at .
Absolutely. Every document submitted to Heritage Script is treated as strictly confidential. I will not share, publish, discuss, or disclose the contents of any document you send me — or any information about your commission — without your explicit consent. Completed transcriptions are shared only with you via a secure Google Docs link. No third party has access.
If I ever wished to use a transcription as a portfolio example or case study — for instance on this website — I would always ask your permission first and would not proceed without it.
Heritage Script is registered with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) as a data controller under the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018 (registration number: [add when received]). The personal data I collect — your name, email address, and any information you provide about your document — is used solely to deliver the service you have requested. It is never shared with third parties or used for marketing without your consent.
Full details of how your data is collected, stored and protected are set out in the Privacy Policy. You have the right to request access to, correction of, or deletion of any data I hold about you at any time.
Yes — Heritage Script has a full set of Terms of Business covering accuracy and limitations, liability, copyright, confidentiality, payment, and cancellation. Reading them before commissioning work is recommended, particularly the sections on accuracy and liability which explain how uncertain readings are handled and what the service does and does not guarantee.
Don't hesitate to get in touch. I'm happy to answer any query about your document before you commit to anything.
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