• Over 30 years' experience as a genealogist and family historian
• Member, since 1989, of AGRA, the Association of Genealogists and Researchers in Archives - see Association of Genealogists and Researchers in Archives (AGRA)
• Follow AGRA's Code of Practice
• Specialising in research in Kent and especially in South West Kent - parishes in the general area of Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells, Sevenoaks and Maidstone
• Own unique indexes, compiled over the past 30 years and mostly not available elsewhere, again concentrating on this same area of South West Kent
• Copies of original source materials held, in microformat or as transcripts
• Provide full and accurate details of entries found by using my indexes
• Take great pains to ensure accuracy in my indexes and in research for clients
• No extra charge to clients when using extensive Private Research Collection, including my own indexes, in the course of their wider research projects
• In recent years, I have increasingly made use of the national resources now so much more readily available on the Internet
• Including the IGI on "FamilySearch.org"
• National Census returns and indexes on "Ancestry.co.uk"
• GRO indexes on, for example, "www.familyrelatives.com"
• PCC Wills and other records on The National Archives', "Documents Online"
• Nonconformist registers on www.bmdregisters.co.uk

I have been a member of AGRA since 1989. I have over 30 years' experience of research in England, specialising in Kent, and especially in South West Kent - the area around Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge, Sevenoaks and Maidstone. I have my own extensive indexes, and large home genealogical library with microfilms and transcripts etc of original sources, mainly for Kent, and again centred on this same area. However, although now living in the Medway Towns, I cannot in all honesty claim any special expertise in searches in, or great local knowledge of, this area (Chatham, Rochester, etc).

Likewise, I prefer not to undertake research in the London area (including those parts of North West Kent now in London - Greenwich, Bexley, etc) in the period before the start of Civil Registration in 1837 and am therefore not generally available for extensive searches in those areas pre-1837, although I do make the occasional such search as required. I am able and willing to search the national records now available on the internet, 1837 onwards, including for these areas. I do also make occasional searches in the Medway area parish registers (both before and after 1837) now available online at http://cityark.medway.gov.uk but I cannot claim to be a specialist in this area. A list of local research specialists is maintained by the Medway Archives and Local Studies Centre and available on this City Ark website. Enquirers might find it preferable to employ one of these specialists for searches in the Medway area.

I do undertake research in many national records now available on the Internet - Census returns and indexes (1841-1901), GRO indexes of births, marriages and deaths (1837-2006), and Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills (1383-1857), among others - but not general Internet research.

I will make searches in my own indexes for set fees starting from £5.00. When undertaking general research work, I make no extra charge for making use of the indexes and other sources in my home genealogical library. My fees are currently £20.00 per hour, with reduced fees for longer searches, starting at £80.00 for 5 hours (in other words 5 hours' work for the price of 4).

I give a guaranteed (and personalised) response to all enquiries, with no initial fee for assessment and giving a quote or estimate. I will give an honest appraisal and, if unable to help with an enquiry, will try to suggest a colleague who might be able to help, or some other option which may enable progress to be made, if possible. It may often be helpful if some detail can be given when contacting me with an initial enquiry and to this end the more detailed enquiry form available on my pages on eXpertGenealogy - see http://expertgenealogy.com/?x=MatthewCopus&p=1 - may be used if required. This is though not obligatory and I will answer all enquiries, whether using this form, email, post, or the less detailed form available on this present website.

A page of selected links is available elsewhere on this website, as are "FAQ" pages which I hope may be helpful. As a one-man operation, I provide a postal and email service only and regret that I am not in a position to offer telephone or personal consultations.

Where able to take on a commission, I will gladly accept payments by PayPal, by arrangement. This method is most economical and convenient for payments from overseas; within the UK, in view of the charges levied by PayPal, payment by cheque will usually be preferable, although I can of course accept payment by PayPal even then, if for example paying by credit or debit card would be helpful.

Matthew Copus
307 Dale Street
Chatham
Kent ME4 6QR

Email: info@mcopus.co.uk
Web Site: www.mcopus.co.uk