Genetic Genealogist vs. Genealogist vs. Forensic Genealogist

If you’ve ever thought about hiring someone to help with your family history, you’ve probably discovered there are multiple flavors of genealogists—and no, they don’t all do the same thing!

Which genealogist works best for you and your situation?

What Does a Genetic Genealogist Do?

People often hear “genealogist,” “genetic genealogist,” and “forensic genealogist” and assume they’re all the same thing or get terribly confused. In reality, each plays a different role in uncovering family history—or in solving mysteries. Here’s how they compare:

Genealogist

A genealogist works primarily with historical records: census data, birth and death certificates, church registers, wills, land deeds, and so on. Their focus is on building family trees through documentation. Think of them as detectives of records, trying to reconstruct stories from paper trails. Anyone can call themselves as genealogist, or even a "professional genealogist" with little or no education or experience. A professional genealogist should be able to show they are members of organizations like APG,(apgen.org) or have completed certification courses from established institutions. There are those who have taken the serious step to become a Certified Genealogist by the Board for Certification of Genealogists (https://bcgcertification.org/), and they will have a "CG" after their name.

Genetic Genealogist

This is where I come in! A genetic genealogist uses DNA test results alongside traditional records to answer family history questions, or find missing family members in your tree. We work with autosomal, Y-DNA, and mitochondrial DNA tests to:

• Confirm or clarify familial relationships

• Break through “brick walls” where the paper trail ends, or is missing completely

• Identify unknown ancestors, or biological family in the case of adoption or Not Parent Expected (NPE)

It’s not just about matching names to charts; it’s about using science to strengthen or challenge what’s on paper. There are standards issued by the Board for Certification of Genealogists that everyone who does this work, should be following. You can find them here, and feel free to ask anyone claiming to be a genealogist about these standards.

Forensic Genealogist

Forensic genealogists work in a legal or law enforcement setting. The other name often used is Investigative Genetic Genealogy. (IGG) They use genealogy and DNA to locate heirs for estates, identify remains, or assist police in solving crimes. They work in a structured environment with specific rules and regulations they have to follow. Their work can have direct legal consequences, while mine is focused on personal and family discovery. Once again, I really admire the work they do in resolving cold cases with regards to unknown human remains or serious crimes, but I don't want to work within the limitations they have been given.

Which One Do You Need?

• Hire a genealogist if you want a traditional family tree built, verified, or expanded through historical records.

• Hire a genetic genealogist if you’ve taken a DNA test and want to make sense of your matches, resolve family mysteries, or break past dead ends.

• Hire a forensic genealogist if the work involves legal questions, estate cases, or an investigation with law enforcement.

In Short

• A genealogist builds with documents.

• A genetic genealogist blends documents with DNA.

• A forensic genealogist applies these skills in legal or criminal contexts.

All three overlap in how they complete the tasks at hand, but the goals, tools and regulations differ widely. My specialty—genetic genealogy—is about connecting the science of DNA with the human stories that make family history meaningful. I enjoy the thrill of finding a missing link in their biological family, and giving them answers to the questions they have had for years and sometimes decades.

Interested in learning more?

Reach out !