TraceYourPast.com, formerly known as Trace.com, is a premier global discovery platform that seamlessly connects customers with expert researchers across over 100 countries. Our mission is to align customer goals with meticulously selected researchers to minimize risks of overspending and mitigate the possibility of unsatisfactory search results. Over the past decade, we have cultivated and maintained relationships with the highest quality researchers worldwide, creating the largest network of over 4,000 professional genealogists, private investigators, archivists, and historians. Since 2014, we’ve successfully managed thousands of projects for clients from over 25 countries.Genealogy Courses and Family History Education:In 2021, we proudly expanded into the realm of genealogy education, offering a wide array of genealogy courses designed to enhance your family history research skills. Our platform is dedicated to creating a comprehensive learning environment that bridges the gap between generations, cultures, and histories. We provide accessible, engaging, and accurate educational resources tailored to both novice family historians and seasoned genealogists.Learn to Use DNA in Genealogy Research:At TraceYourPast.com, we understand the transformative power of DNA in genealogy research. Our specialized course on genetic genealogy empowers learners to use DNA evidence to trace their ancestry and discover new biological family connections. By learning to use DNA in genealogy research, you can unlock deeper insights into your heritage, uncovering connections that traditional research methods might miss.Our Commitment:We are committed to offering a blend of innovative technology, expert insights, and a supportive learning environment. Our goal is to facilitate the unlocking of personal histories, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of our collective human story. By enrolling in our genealogy courses, you gain the tools and knowledge needed to navigate the in
Trace Your Past (trace.com) has 222 customer reviews on Five Star Index, with an average rating of 4.4 out of 5.
Also known as
trace.com
Website
trace.com
Category
Kids & Family
Location
Provo, Utah
Listed on Five Star Index
2026
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The company replied to 98% of reviews.
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Most recent review: September 2026.
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My experience with this company is very bleak. They provide very little communication regarding where they are at in the process of outlining your project. If I cant get a response in the beginning of this project I can only imagine the fustration I will have moving forward. Nothing was done for me, but due to their non refund policy I am out of money and time spent waiting on help. I would not reccomend this company. Please stay away and find a more reputable company that you can reach whenever you have questions.
Response from Trace Your PastDec 10, 2021
Thank you for sharing this with us, Lamont. We apologize for any lacking communication on our part; we strive to share updates on your project monthly, and more frequently when available. Your project has recently received a proposal, which we hope will meet your genealogical goals. If it does not, we would be happy to complete any revisions to your proposal you may have, to better meet your genealogy needs. We look forward to speaking with you more soon, and please don't hesitate to reach out to [email protected] if you have any additional questions or concerns.
MP
Mike P.
It cost a lot
It cost a lot, got me nothing. And…they won’t let me connect with the researcher to try to get someplace meaningful. I spent more than $1000 and the research questions were left unanswered. You can certainly find better.
Response from Trace Your PastOct 27, 2021
Thank you for sharing your experience with us, Mike. We have conducted an additional review of your project and have found that your researcher went above and beyond, in terms of completing the research plan that was agreed upon via email and verbal communication, as well as completing 6 hours of additional in person archival research at no extra cost to you. Your researcher also provided you with extensive details on your subject's family, as well as a possible location of origin for each of your research subjects.
In accordance with the agreement with our researchers, and at their request, Trace refrains from sharing researchers' specific contact information. Additionally, this allows the researcher to focus on the research, while we focus on providing support for all aspects of your project. When communication occurs outside of the predetermined lanes, we are unable to handle any questions or concerns that arise. On June 29th, June 30th, and July 2nd, our support team offered to discuss your specific questions with you and share them with your researcher, however, you denied this service.
We encourage you to direct your questions to [email protected] and we will happily share them with your researcher.
JZ
Jeanne Z.
Unreliable Company
Unable to recommend this company for any research - especially in Eastern Europe. I found them to be uncommunicative when they failed to provide any information. Hired them to research grandparents vital records in Lithuania during early 1800s. Paid the company $2500 and received virtually nothing in return after 3 years of trying to make contact with them; although they continued to promise that "on site researchers" were hired. They totally dropped the ball; and were not apologetic or concerned that they had managed to keep my money but provide nothing in return.
Response from Trace Your PastSep 27, 2021
Hi Jeanne. We understand that your project did not meet your expectations and that this experience was not a positive one. We would be happy to speak with you over email, or over the phone, to better understand this experience. In reviewing your project we found that the research couldn’t be completed as was originally proposed, as the research phase discovered that the relevant documents had been destroyed. We would like to offer you a partial refund as the circumstances of this project inhibited the research being completed in full, as outlined in the research proposal. We have sent you an email from [email protected]; kindly refer to this for more information on how we would like to make this right.
SH
Scott H.
Very disappointed
Very disappointed. I was leery to begin with once I heard the process they use but I thought I would give it a try because they were about 1/2 price from their competitors. A typical you get what you pay for situation I guess. Their process involves absolutely no communication between you the customer and the person actually doing the research so what you end up getting is a lot of feedback on what you already know. I would advise anyone considering their services to look elsewhere.
Response from Trace Your PastSep 15, 2021
Hi Scott, We sincerely apologize that your experience did not meet your expectations, and we thank you for expressing these concerns with us. Our extensive questionnaire was sent to you, along with the invitation to send us an email outlining all previous research you had conducted, before your proposal was purchased. This process is put in place for all of our projects and enables the researcher to begin research with the most complete information available. Our researcher completed high quality genealogical research, based on the information that was provided to them. If you feel that you were not provided with enough opportunities to share all relevant research with us, please contact us at [email protected] and we will be happy to discuss this further with you.
AY
Ann Y.
Duped?
I paid the introductory price for 3 separate research projects and had the initial interviews, discussing them at length after spending lots of time downloading information. No one has ever followed up, even after my inquiries! This is very disappointing and makes me feel like I was duped. What happened to your promises to discuss with genealogists and get back to me?
Response from Trace Your PastJun 29, 2021
Thank you so much for reaching out and making us aware of your situation. Upon receipt of your research request, Trace and our researchers spent many hours on your 3 separate research projects, working to provide the proposals you paid for. We delivered proposals from our best researchers and explained the outlined research plans over the phone. An email was sent to you on 26 January 2021 with a request to schedule a call to go over what revisions you would like for your projects. We are now, as we were then, more than happy to request revisions to your provided proposals to best fit your research needs. An email was sent to you on 29 June 2021 from our customer support team, inviting you to schedule a call to discuss your research proposals. We look forward to your response and to continuing to work with you.
TO
Ticked Off C.
I Paid $100 and was Ripped Off
I paid $100 ($50 discount from Rootstech) and got 2 proposals for the same project. One was $500 and the $2,500. The descriptions on the proposals for the services to be rendered read exactly the same. Twice they promised me a more detailed proposal so I could determine why a $2,000 discrepancy in the 2 quotes. Twice they never delivered the differentiation. So I could never make an informed decision. They feel if they send you an e-mail with any sort of quote they have met their obligation. Total rip-off!
Response from Trace Your PastApr 14, 2021
Thank you for sharing this with us; we sincerely apologize for the negative experience you have had. We recognize that your desire for a more detailed proposal was not met and we’re happy to make that right if possible. Unfortunately, the nature of genealogical research is such that research outcomes cannot be guaranteed, an expectation we try to set in each call with customers. As such, a researcher cannot outline exactly which records will be obtained without conducting the research, and therefore cannot provide an extensive plan of all that will be conducted.
While a more specific plan cannot be obtained, reviewing your proposals has revealed that the major differences between the two proposals lie in the depth to which each researcher plans to research. Proposal 1 is limited in its number of hours of research and states that it “will not be a comprehensive search for each subject.” Proposal 2 presents a plan in which the researcher will spend 8 times the amount of hours compared to Proposal 1, and will complete in-depth research for each subject. Based on these differences, it is understood that Proposal 1 will include much less extensive research than Proposal 2.
We are happy to discuss any specific questions regarding either proposal further, as with all projects, and we are happy to engage in further proposal revisions in order to cater them to your project goals. Please direct specific questions and concerns to [email protected]. We look forward to your email and to discussing this with you further.
KI
KimF
Contract breach
On August 20, 2020, Trace prepared a proposal for me. The proposal was to “obtain notarized/apostilled copies of” three documents: (1) the birth record of [my great grandfather] (2) the marriage record of the same to my [great grandmother]; (3) the birth record of [my grandmother].
These were for me to apply for Hungarian citizenship, as noted in the proposal.
The 2nd and 3 documents were to be obtained first and the birth record to be looked for in a second assignment.
I submitted at the time of the proposal, an image of my grandmother’s birth certificate and the record from Saint-Michel-de-la-Pierre with my great grandmother’s birth certificate noting her marriage.
Trace returned to me an unapostilled or notarized version of my grandmother’s birth certificate (so a document that I sent to you in July of last year) as well as an unapostilled or notarized verion of the marriage certificate. You have also submitted a note that documents between the Czech Republic and France do not need to be notarized. For this, Trace have charged $150 in scoping and $440 to find the birth certificates.
(Not the mention the second project, for which I paid about $900 for searches for my great grandfather’s birth certificate; Trace’s researcher could not find it but I hired a Czech genealogist who located him almost immediately.)
I cannot get Trace to fulfill its contract. I have had to filed a BBB complaint. I have used Legacy Tree for other jobs (also during the pandemic) and recommend them highly.
UPDATED: I do not dispute that The Hague Convention is in effect. I dispute that you fulfilled the contract, which was to get apostilled/official versions of the documents. What I do with them, frankly, is not your business.
(I also do not dispute that your researcher spent the time in the Czech archives and that you fulfilled your contract on that project. I just note that I spent a $150 on a Czech researcher who was able to find the documents within two weeks, as opposed to your efforts, which cost $900 and took much longer.)
I appreciate your reply but stand by my review.
Response from Trace Your PastFeb 15, 2021
Hi Kim,
Thank you for reaching out to us to share your experience.
Our researcher in France provided the research as outlined in the proposal and submitted the records the obtained for the apostille, fulfilling the agreement. When the researcher presented the documents to the Cours d’appel de Paris for apostille, they were denied and the Hague Act referenced.
The government entity who is responsible for apostilles in France, Cours d’appel de Paris, indicated that the apostille was not required for use in the Czech Republic due to a dispensation (exemption) in place between the two countries. Basically, outside of the Hague Act, (which is what allows for the apostille to be accepted between member countries), these participants can also have a bilateral agreement between themselves. There are bilateral agreements in place between France and Hungary, as well as France and the Czech Republic, which removes the need to have an apostille for some records, including vital records, when issued by a government agency in France for use in either the Czech Republic or Hungary. Were one to hold personal documents, as opposed to official vital records issued by the government, apostille would be required.
In regard to the second project mentioned, the proposed research plan, which you agreed to, was limited to research in the digitized Roman Catholic records of Kostelec nad Labem which were originally held in Státní oblastní archiv v Praze. The records did not include any reference to the subject for the time period provided. As is the nature of genealogical research, one is paying for the time and efforts for the research specified, not specific results. We are happy to hear that a researcher was able to locate your great grandfather’s birth certificate in another record set.
We are committed to the highest quality research and our research team went beyond the scope to make this outcome optimal by providing their expert explanations and insight. Please contact us via [email protected] if you require further assistance or have any additional concerns.
Update:
Hi Kim,
As outlined in our terms and conditions listed in your proposal agreement, "research proposals outline research that is to be conducted by the researcher(s). Due to the nature of genealogical research, research outcomes cannot be guaranteed. Accepting and paying for a research proposal serves as an agreement for services rendered as outlined in the proposed research plan(s), regardless of whether the research results in positive or negative findings. All findings, whether positive or negative, will be reported to the client, as outlined in the accepted research plan(s)." Our Terms and Conditions can be accessed at https://www.trace.com/terms. We understand how frustrating it can be to not have positive results and we are thrilled that you were able to obtain the records you sought. Although our researcher was denied the apostille of your records, we hope that you are able to use them in your research goals.
AD
ASHLEY D.
Bad at following up
We have been exchanging emails with Trace.com and had a call scheduled. Received a confirmation text for the appointment but never received a call. We have called several times and left messages, they have not emailed or called back.
Response from Trace Your PastJan 27, 2021
Hi Ashley,
Thank you for taking the time to share this and to make us aware of your situation. We sincerely apologize for the experience you have had and we apologize that we were unable to connect for a call with you. In the past, we have had problems regarding different time zones in our scheduling software, which has resulted in a disconnect between clients and our team. We want to offer you a 100% discount on our $150 scoping fee and a commitment that we will contact you if you are interested in continuing with us; I have called and left a voicemail to make sure we get you an appointment at your earliest convenience. Please let us know how we can best help you by contacting us at [email protected].
