Honesty, pricing, process and quality scores appear once 5 customers have rated them.
About Legacy Tree Genealogists
Legacy Tree Genealogists is a worldwide provider of professional genealogy research services. Our genealogists are experts at finding the unfindable, solving the unsolvable and breaking down genealogy "brick walls" to extend your family history.
Legacy Tree Genealogists (legacytree.com) has 88 customer reviews on The Fair Hearing, with an average rating of 3.9 out of 5.
A poor experience, spent £2500, prolonged with no tangible results. Made worse by receiving an offer to explore the results found if we paid more money. Beyond disappointing.
By lisa P.
Charged incorrectly. Never started Project
I engaged Legacy Tree Genealogists in July 2026 for a $11,500 genealogy research project, verbally agreeing to a 3-month installment payment plan with my research goals fully discussed and confirmed at that time. Instead, my card was charged the full amount in a single transaction, with no invoice or receipt ever issued.
Over the following five weeks, the assigned project manager restructured the project’s scope and hours four separate times, each time introducing new paid add-ons or “rush fee” options, rather than simply starting the work that had already been agreed upon. More than 40 days after payment, the company’s own written communication admitted that no research had actually started.
Several family lines I provided were already well-documented on my end, so there was no legitimate reason for this level of delay. When I requested a refund, I was met with more sales pitches instead of a resolution. Based on my experience, and on similar patterns described in other reviews here, I’d recommend looking elsewhere before committing significant money to this company.
By Michelle R.
Response from Legacy Tree Genealogists· Aug 12, 2026
Hi Michelle. We are sorry to hear that your experience with the project has not met your expectations. We take your feedback seriously and would appreciate the opportunity to look into your concerns. A senior member of our team will reach out to you privately to discuss this further.
Shameful waste of money
I provided a previous family-history report with a clear and singular goal: finding the next ancestors above the one in the report I provided. After $5300 worth of my money spent, LTG told me they could not find anything because the required records were lost in a fire. No one with integrity should charge $5300 for this feedback, which could easily be discovered in 1 -2 hours of work by someone who knows what they are doing. Shameful.
By Adam
Response from Legacy Tree Genealogists· Dec 19, 2025
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We genuinely understand the frustration that comes when a "brick wall" remains standing after a significant investment. Our goal is always to provide the breakthrough our clients are searching for, and we are sorry that we couldn't deliver the additional generations you were looking for during this phase. We do try to be as clear as possible right from the start that we cannot guarantee specific results because we never know what will be found until we put in the time and do the actual work.
When a client brings us a case that has already been researched by another firm—especially a complex "brick wall" like your lineage—our professional standards require a comprehensive audit of all previous research. If a previous report contains a single misidentified ancestor, any further research would be fundamentally flawed. This review allows us to fully understand the work they did so we can make a plan for what other avenues are left to pursue, while also looking for any possible clues the previous firm may have overlooked.
Regarding the record loss discussed in your report: while identifying that a courthouse fire took place may be a quick task, researching around that fire is a highly intensive process. When direct records are destroyed we must focus on reconstructing entire neighborhoods through alternative surviving records to find indirect evidence of parentage; and using complex DNA triangulation to identify genetic clusters, which provides a roadmap that paper records no longer can.
We took on this project knowing it was a difficult case that had not been resolved elsewhere. Our team spent the project hours exhausting every possible alternative source and analyzing DNA matches to bridge the gap left by those fires. While the result was a recommendation for specific Y-DNA testing, that conclusion was reached only after an exhaustive search, and we do believe it has the potential to break down this brick wall for you.
We stand by the integrity of our researchers and the depth of the analysis provided. If you have found any errors in the results you were provided, your Project Manager would welcome the opportunity to discuss and clarify those with you. We truly wish you all the best.
Disappointed and disheartened
I had a piece of research carried out by Legacy, which uncovered new information about my ancestral line. They gave a proposal for a second piece of work to extend further back, which I agreed to, even though I thought they had reached as far back as they could. I paid and waited seven months. When they delivered this second piece of work it was a re-hash of the previous research and some general background information. Nothing else. I complained to them and informed them that I was very displeased, and reiterated that they had already reached as far back on the first project. I was fobbed off and told there were no guarantees. This second effort was very poor. Feels like a company in trouble, so be careful about parting with your cash
By hagg1s
Response from Legacy Tree Genealogists· Dec 19, 2025
Hi Andy! Thank you for sharing your feedback. As we've already discussed with you privately, we sincerely regret that your second project did not yield the breakthrough you were hoping for. We truly understand the frustration of hitting a "brick wall," especially when you have already invested significant time and emotion into the search.
We want to clarify that our recommendations for future research, which are included in every project, are never intended to mislead you, but rather to ensure that no stone is left unturned. In professional genealogy, "the end of the line" is only declared once every available avenue—including DNA analysis and collateral line research—has been exhausted. While your intuition may have suggested the line might be at its limit after the first project, when you reached out to us and said you had been discussing this with distant cousins and wanted to order another project to pursue the research further, we were happy to do so.
After a thorough internal review of your projects, we stand firmly behind the quality of the work delivered. While the second project focused on the complex task of analyzing DNA and Scottish records to find new leads, the nature of research is such that even the most exhaustive efforts do not always result in a generational leap. In these cases, we provide a detailed record of the work performed and the context found to ensure you have a complete foundation for any future discoveries. Rather than being a rehash of the first project, the second project focused on searching additional sources and collecting additional details about your ancestors in order to differentiate them from others with similar names, with the hopes of adding additional generations to your family tree.
That said, we take your satisfaction seriously and are sorry that our process felt like anything less than a dedicated effort. To address your concerns regarding our company’s standing, we want to reassure you and our community that Legacy Tree Genealogists has been a stable leader in this industry for over 20 years. We have helped thousands of happy clients discover their roots, many of whom return to us year after year to work on multiple projects. Our longevity is built on transparency and a commitment to professional standards.
We offer projects in blocks of time specifically so clients can control their investment in these unpredictable searches. We never pressure clients to reorder because, as we've explained, we feel it needs to be your decision how much time and money you are ready to invest in breaking down your genealogical brick walls. In this particular case there are still more avenues to explore, but it is likely that progress will continue to be slow, and we absolutely respect your decision not to continue.
We wish you the very best in your own continued research and hope that, in time, a new record or DNA match provides the breakthrough you’re seeking.
WARNING ⚠️ HIDDEN ADGENDA
WARNING ⚠️ HIDDEN ADGENDA
I WAS ASKED TO PAY £9,000 WHICH I WAS WILLING TO DO, I PAID AN INITIAL £3008 I FOUND THE APPLICATION PROCESS VERY LONG WINDED. DEREK TOMLIN ASSIGNED AS PROJECT MANAGER INTRODUCED HIMSELF IN AN EMAIL WHICH DESCRIBED HIMSELF AS HAVING A PASSION FOR FAMILY HISTORY WITH OVER 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND HAVING SERVED AS MILITARY INTELLIGENCE FOR NEARLY 30 YEARS, YET COULD NOT REGISTER THE INFORMATION I GAVE HIM ABOUT MY FAMILY. AT ONE POINT HE ASKED IF MY 145 YEAR OLD DECEASED GRANDMA WAS SIBLINGS WITH MY 50 YEAR OLD SIBLING, WHERE THEY DO THAT AT IN MILITARY INTELLIGENCE?THIS WAS AN IMMEDIATE RED FLAG, NO ONE WITH THE EXPERIENCE AND PASSION HE CLAMS TO HAVE WOULD MAKE THAT SLIP UP, NOT ONCE BUT THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS WHILE EMAILING BACK A FORTH HIS PASSION WAS CLEARLY NON EXISTENT. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF LOST SLAVE HISTORY TO BENEFIT FROM FEDERAL TRUSTS IN OUR NAME, THEY ASK FOR I.D THAT ISN’T MANDATORY TO ACCESS GOVERNMENT DATA MAKES NO SENSE. ANYWAY ONCE I CAUGHT WIND OF SOMETHINGS NOT ADDING UP I REQUESTED A REFUND AND BEFORE MAKING A PAYMENT WAS TOLD I COULD HAVE A REFUND AT ANY STAGE MINUS £20 WHICH WAS ADMIN FEE, SO I WAS MIS-SOLD THE SERVICE. TURNS OUT THEY TOOK £351.13 FOR GATHERING INFORMATION ON ME, I THANK GOD HE STOPPED ME FROM WASTING A LARGER AMOUNT OF MONEY WITH THIS FRAUDULENT COMPANY, WHATEVER IT IS THEY THINK THEY CAN DO WITH OUR BLACK HISTORY YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE WON’T BE IN OUR INTEREST. SAVE YOURSELF THE TROUBLE AND AVOID THEM LIKE THE PLAGUE. NO RECOMMENDATIONS FROM ME
By jules
Response from Legacy Tree Genealogists· Apr 9, 2025
Thank you for your feedback. We are very sorry that Derek's clarifying questions were frustrating to you. We just want to make sure we clearly understand what you already have and what you're hoping to learn so we can make the best use of your research time. As we already discussed, we would have loved to help with this project but also respect your decision to cancel. As you requested via email, we have deleted all family information you sent us, and truly wish you all the best.
Placed me in the wrong family
I contacted them in December of 2023 to try and find when my family came to America. After 6 months of "researching" they told me they couldn't do anything without a DNA test which I was hesitant to do. After being told multiple times they couldn't be successful without a DNA test I relented and had one done with the company they recommended (FamilyTree DNA). After getting the results, the company placed me in the wrong family. When i questioned the results, it was treated more like an episode of Maury rather than a serious query. I was then told to do a second DNA test, which i did and that test placed me back in the correct family. When I asked about a refund or any sort of compensation for being told my parents weren't my parents, i was told i would be contacted and then no one ever reached out. Do not use this company.
By marting
Response from Legacy Tree Genealogists· Dec 31, 2024
Hi Martin – We are very sorry that your experience with us was frustrating for you. When you’re trying to extend paternal ancestry that has already been traced back to the mid-1700s it is common to look at Y-DNA results, and it was surprising to see that your DNA showed a connection to another family somewhere along the line. As your report explains, this connection was estimated to have happened between 1450-1900, so the research team recommended another type of DNA test to help narrow down the timeframe. In reviewing the communication for this project we do see that the way this was initially communicated was unclear and caused unnecessary stress to you, and for that we sincerely apologize. Our management team is unaware of any complaint you’ve previously made, but our Client Support Director will reach out to you privately.
My second Legacy Tree projject
My first experience with Legacy Tree was great. The researcher kept me apprised of her progress all along the way. I feel the researcher made a difference. The final project was detailed and over 100 pages of information.
I was so pleased with the first project that I commissioned a second on the maternal side of my family. This researcher did not communicate with me at all and the time drug on. When the project was completed I received a binder of about 16 pages of information that I provided mostly. Also they did not address a portion of my initial request.
When I reached out to the project coordinator to address to rest of my request she brushed me off and did not acknowledge that there was little additional information in their final report.
I would not suggest this company to anyone.
By MJA
Response from Legacy Tree Genealogists· Aug 16, 2024
Hi MJA – We are very sorry to hear that you were disappointed with your second project, and that you didn’t feel like your concerns were taken seriously. It is common for each subsequent project to have less and less results as we get back into earlier time periods and information is less readily available. However, if you feel that a mistake was made, please reach out to us at [email protected] with a detailed list of your questions and concerns and we can have our Client Support Director review your project and reach out to you.
CAUTION_ DO NOT HIRE a research services from this company
I hired the LTG in 2022 for a research for my grandfather birth certificate in Spain. I suported the researcher's team providing them with two marriage certificate, one (civil) stated that my grandfather was born in CÁDIZ (This was my GOAL set) and the church certificate stated that he was born in Málaga. I've done myself a research in Málaga and there was not the place because I requested already to the civil registry and they sent a "negative certificate", that was the reason CÁDIZ was elected to be the GOAL.
I purchased a package of 25h from Legacy Tree Genealogists which costs U$2750. They ignored my original GOAL they have searched only in 2 places in CÁDIZ and then tried to find something in Malága. They simply shifted my GOAL on researching in CÁDIZ. The client when interested on purchasing a package has to make a full deposit in order to get the research started. LEGACY TREE GENEALOGISTS are a FRAUD. They will go through their own resources such as data, archives etc, they do not make any onsite research. If you are reading MY DEAR FRIEND this review pay attention that you can do it by yourself just go to FAMILYSEARCH.ORG and you can start your research. What they do is useless and do not worth the money. They provided a ridiculous services and do not care about customer satisfaction. DO NOT THROW YOUR MONEY THROUGH THE WINDOW. To sum up Legacy Tree Genealogists act like this : They offer their service (terrible) in researching your ancestors and if the customer did not find it satisfactory, WHATEVER REASONS, then it's not the Legacy Tree Genealogists problem anymore. They assum that they are the best company in the world in terms of genealogy and they do not admit they make mistakes. On their mind their job is flawless. I truly would like to advice you dear friend DO NOT HIRE ANY SERVICES OF THIS COMPANY. Regarding searching your own ancestors I'm sure you can do yourself a great job. Good Lucky.
By chistiano S.
Response from Legacy Tree Genealogists· May 20, 2024
Hi Cristiano –
We understand you are disappointed. We really wish you had let us complete your project rather than canceling it mid-way through so that we could have finished everything we normally do. In this case, we’ve communicated with you privately about this multiple times, and processed the refund for your unused hours several months ago. Unfortunately there is nothing more we can do or say at this time, but we do wish you the best.
