Aidan founded Estate Research in 2001, having gained vital industry experience in London with two other probate research companies. Over the last 20 years, Aidan has witnessed considerable change within the industry. When he began his career, research was carried out by painstakingly searching through microfiches, or by visiting St Catherine’s House. These records were matched to the phone book and just one year of electoral rolls and the information obtained was the only way to trace people. More recently, records have been digitalised, the electoral rolls have become freely available and social media has made everyone findable. Aidan is dedicated to improving the service for the legal sector and strives to make Estate Research the tried and trusted name in probate genealogy.

Aidan is a member of the Professional Paralegal Register.

Abbie joined Estate Research in 2024 after graduating with a degree in History from Lancaster University. She brings a love and passion of investigating history to her role as a Researcher for the Private Client team.

Ailsa has over 10 years experience in in reception  and administration roles across various industries. She joins Estate Research in this key supportive role assisting the overall business with day to day operations.

With nearly 20 years’ experience in genealogy, Alex overseas research from our London office and regularly provides presentations regarding probate genealogy services to the private client industry. He successfully completed his Law Degree (LLB) in July 2014.

Alex is a member of the Professional Paralegal Register.

Alison joined Estate Research after working in accounts in the legal sector for 19 years.

Following careers in finance and education, Alison is relishing her move into the field of genealogy. After experience in projects, she is now using her attention to detail to put family ‘jigsaws’ together. She finds helping clients navigate what can be an unfamiliar and unnerving set of circumstances, particularly rewarding.

Amanda joined Estate Research after 15 years in teaching. She facilitates the smooth running of the office and maintains close contact with our client base. She loves ‘heir hunting’: reuniting lost families and presenting the family tree to her clients.

Amanda is a member of the Professional Paralegal Register.

Andrew joined Estate Research in 2018 and brings with him a wealth of experience and expertise in genealogy and estate administration services. Based in Glasgow, Andrew is ideally placed to meet his clients on a regular basis.

Anthony joined Estate Research in 2018. Graduating from Edge Hill University with a degree in History and several years of experience in both the private and public sector, he is a highly valued member of the Private Client department.

Becki joined Estate Research in February 2019, with over 20 years’ experience within HR across multiple sectors. Becki also has a background in Operational & Project Management. In addition to her HR duties Becki also oversees the companies ISO 9001, 14001, & 27001 accreditations, health & safety and GDPR.

Becky graduated with a First from the University of York in 2020 after studying Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE). With previous experience working in the charity sector and a keen interest in genealogy, Becky now works within the Public Sector Team as a Case Manager.

Ben joined Estate Research after studying economics at St. Andrews University. He enjoyed the research involved in the study of Economic History, and brings that same passion for history and research to the Private Client team.

Bethany graduated from Liverpool John Moores University in 2022 with a 2:1 BA (Hons) degree in English Literature. She has recently joined our growing business development team, utilising skills from her previous management experience in customer service roles to liaise effectively with clients and better understand their business needs.

Cara joined Estate Research after graduating from Edge Hill University with a First Class Honours English Literature Degree and Research Masters. She enjoys carrying out archival research and transfers this to her role in genealogy.

With a decade of experience in the genealogy industry and several years collaborating with local authorities, Chris brings extensive expertise in business development across the sector.

Claire joined Hammer Price Homes following 13 years of service at an independent forensic mental health inpatient service, where she held the position of Head of Administration. She holds a BA (Hons) in Criminology and Sociology from the University of Central Lancashire and now manages the day to day administrative functions within the Property Management team.

Daniel graduated from Queen’s University Belfast in 2025 with a First-Class Honours degree in Anthropology. He was drawn to genealogical research from his enjoyment of the stories and social elements of anthropology and is looking forward to embracing his role as a Researcher in our Private Client team.

Dave began his working life in banking but then qualified as a Chartered Certified Accountant and worked in a number of private and listed companies as Finance Director before joining Hammer Price Homes to head up the compliance side of the business. Dave now handles all things sales & marketing and in normal times will be up and down the country presenting the benefits of using the Hammer Price Homes online auction to sell properties.

Dominic heads up our large Private Client team, all of whom are focused on delivering top-class genealogy services to solicitors. He has worked within the probate research and genealogy industry since 2008 and has specialised in private client genealogy for most of the last decade. Since 2015 Dominic has travelled across the UK & internationally, meeting with private client practitioners in order to develop Estate Research's key services.

Dominic is a member of the Professional Paralegal Register.

Ellis graduated with a History Degree from the University of Liverpool in 2019 and completed an MA in Twentieth-Century History in 2020. He particularly enjoyed the social history aspect of his degree which is now utilised in his current role as a Case Manager in our Private Client department.

Elly joined the world of genealogy back in 2014 after fifteen eventful years working in broadcast television, both in the UK and Australia.  Elly enjoys the family history aspect of the research and particularly enjoys the unusual cases that can come our way.  She is very sociable and loves making new connections.

Emily has been working in probate genealogy since 2009 and joined our team in 2017. Emily has experience in all parts of the industry having worked in Private Client and Public Sector departments as well as having experience working on cases that originate overseas. Emily particularly enjoys the challenge of international probate research.

Emily is a member of the Professional Paralegal Register.

Emma joined the accounts team at Estate Research in February 2025. She has gained over 20 years of experience in accounts and administration through the retail, haulage, and construction sectors. Emma is now enjoying her new role and the change in an exciting new industry.

With over 20 years of experience in the legal sector, Emma has developed a keen understanding of the valuable services genealogists offer. She is excited to embrace the investigative challenges of genealogy to help individuals uncover and explore their family's history.

Gavin joined us as our Legal Services Manager & Head of Overseas Assets after 15 years working in the legal services industry gained at Thomson Reuters, Veyo and Hammicks. Building relationships and developing products are his strengths.

Hannah has joined the Private Client team as an Ancillary Services Administrator with 6 years’ experience in costs within the Legal sector supporting the Costs Draftsman. Hannah brings a strong background in administration and team support. She looks forward to furthering her career in the genealogy industry where she can contribute her skills to support the team.

Harry Joined Estate Research with three years experience working in the probate genealogy industry. He enjoys the problem-solving nature of the research and steering a case from start to finish.

Hayley graduated from the University of Leeds in 2014 with an International Politics Degree. Having worked in executive search and then in sales and marketing for one of the UK’s largest media providers; Hayley now leads on all marketing and sales support projects for Estate Research.

A highly skilled Team Leader and Senior Case Manager within the Public Sector department, Helen combines expert knowledge of probate genealogy with a passion for reconnecting families and resolving complex estate matters. Known for her meticulous research, compassionate approach, and commitment to excellence, she consistently delivers outstanding results on even the most challenging cases.

Helen is a member of the Professional Paralegal Register.

Helen joined Estate Research in 2025, with a strong operational background in the property sector. She holds a BA (Hons) in English Language from the University of Manchester and has a keen interest in research and genealogy.

Helen is one of our longer-serving members of staff, having worked at Estate Research since 2016. In that time, she has won two awards, ‘Best Probate Research Paralegal’ and ‘Paralegal of the Year – North’ at the National Paralegal Awards.  Her vast experience in her position, combined with her psychology degree, means she is empathetic, knowledgeable and dedicated to the role she loves.

Helen is a member of the Professional Paralegal Register.

After completing her BA in History at University of Liverpool, Isabelle went onto study for her MA in History at the University of Manchester, graduating in December 2021. Utilising the skills gained in her degree as well as her experience from a previous role as a researcher for the National Trust - Isabelle joined our Private Client team as a Researcher and now works as a Senior Private Client Case Manager.

Jade holds an LLB (Hons) Law degree from the University of Buckingham and has worked within the legal sector since 2013. She has extensive experience in case management and is a CILEX Chartered Paralegal. Jade is among the first nine individuals in the county to have achieved this prestigious qualification.

Jade is a member of the Professional Paralegal Register.

James joined Estate Research after graduating from Leeds Beckett University with a First-Class Honours Degree in History. He brings expertise from his research background and a passion for history.

James studied Politics with International Relations and quantitative analysis at the University of York, with a focus on environmental politics. Having enjoyed the research and data analysis elements of his degree, he has joined our Public Sector team as a Researcher.

Formerly a music teacher, Janet has been a professional genealogist since 1999, specialising in probate research for over 10 years. Since 2010, she has been Chairman of ASGRA (Association of Scottish Genealogists & Researchers in Archives).

Jess joined Estate Research after working in the legal sector for 5 years. She has a BA (Hons) Degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice from Edge Hill University. She continued her studies at Liverpool John Moores University and obtained a Graduate Diploma in Law, and Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice.

Jo has worked in genealogy since 2008 with experience in international estates, especially those originating from the USA. She enjoys the variety of the role, having a keen interest in history.

Jo worked in the legal sector for 8 years and retrained to become an IT trainer for a large law firm in East Anglia furthering her knowledge of practice management systems. Jo manages the Overseas Assets department and has developed and handles the company’s databases.

Having worked with public sector clients since 2007 in a constantly evolving industry, Jonathan strives to adapt and improve our resources to ensure that service output is consistently excellent.

A member of the Professional Paralegal Register

With a degree in History and previous experience of working within the probate genealogy sector,  Joseph brings fantastic industry experience to his role as a Case Manager for our Private Client team.

With over 20 years experience in the genealogy industry, Katherine is a valued member of our Private Client London team. She enjoys assisting our clients and the variety of cases which arise, and especially likes speaking with beneficiaries to resolve even the most challenging matters.

Katie joined Estate Research having worked in an administration and case management role for over 8 years. She is now enjoying assisting each of the Private Client Case Managers with a wide range of tasks, and loves the challenge that comes with each unique case she gets to work on.    

Katie is a team leader and seasoned probate genealogist within our Public Sector team.  Working in the field since 2007, she specialises in tracing missing beneficiaries and navigating the complexities of estate research. Katie enjoys the diverse nature of her work—from conducting international investigations to liaising directly with beneficiaries and helping ensure estates are distributed correctly and efficiently.

Katie is a member of the Professional Paralegal Register.

Kitty joined Estate Research in 2025 after graduating from the University of York with a First Class Honors Degree in History. Whilst studying, she particularly enjoyed using her investigative ability to complete research projects and she is passionate about bringing her love for history to the position.

Lara graduated from the University of Kent with a degree in law and worked as a probate legal case manager before joining Estate Research in 2025. She enjoys applying her critical thinking and attention to detail to the job, along with the satisfaction that comes from helping to bring closure to a family.

Laura joined Estate Research after 23 years in teaching including many years as an Assistant Headteacher. She has a lifelong love of History, graduating from Edge Hill in 2002 with a 2:1 BA (Hons) in History and Primary Education (with QTS). She is embracing a career change and the investigative nature of genealogy.

Lauren graduated from Bangor University in 2021 with First Class Honours in History, Archaeology and Heritage. She later went on to earn a Distinction in her Archaeology MA in 2023. Lauren has always had a keen interest in genealogy and loves to utilise her research skills in her role as Public Sector Case Manager.

With over 10 years’ experience within the Public Sector department, Lauren is a Senior Case Manager with a strong passion for research and a deep knowledge of probate genealogy. Lauren is dedicated to thorough, accurate research and takes pride in helping families navigate complex estate matters with clarity and care.

Lauren is a member of the Professional Paralegal Register.

Lauren joined Estate Research in 2021 after graduating from Durham University with a First Class Honours Degree in History, Spanish and Italian. Having been passionate about family history and genealogy since she was a teenager, she loves the investigative challenge that comes with each unique case.

Leanne has over 20 years’ experience working in administration across many sectors including contamination control, dental, CCTV drainage and scaffolding and now brings her experience to Estate Research to support the Private Client department.

Liam joined Hammer Price Homes, having previously practised as a Chartered Landscape Architect for 13 years. During this time, he was involved in a wide range of projects, including leading on landscape design and construction projects, and managing and co-ordinating multi-disciplinary teams. Liam is now involved with the day-to-day operations associated with Hammer Price Homes online property auction.

Lisa joined Estate Research after spending several years working in the legal industry. She enjoys the diverse nature of this role, supporting the case managers, organising and performing administrative duties.

Louise joined Estate Research in 2021 after graduating from Edge Hill University achieving a first class honours Criminology and Sociology degree. Louise enjoyed the research side of her degree and is enthusiastic to transfer this to her role at Estate Research.

Before joining the Estate Research Private Client Team, Lucy graduated with a First-Class Masters degree in History from the University of Manchester following graduating from the University of Liverpool with a History with English Language degree. She enjoys the investigative side of genealogy, piecing together complex family histories and dynamics.

Marie-Clare joined Estate Research in 2024 after leaving her role as an Investigative Officer with Staffordshire Police. Before this, she completed her master's in Forensic Archaeology at the University of Bradford. She enjoys applying her attention to detail and an investigative eye to her research.

With over 17 years experienced gained working in various Local Authorities, Mark joined Estate Research in 2023. Mark brings with him a wealth of experience in the management of appointee, Deputy and Section 46 cases, arranging funerals and dealing with estates.

Estate Research employed Martin as a regional agent over 15 years ago and he has subsequently successfully resolved hundreds of cases over the years; he still enjoys the variety of stories that the job brings.

Martin is a member of the Professional Paralegal Register.

Matthew graduated Sheffield Hallam university in 2019, with a BA (Hons) degree in Marketing. Having previous experience in the Property Management and Health & Safety / HR sectors, Matthew joined our team back in 2022. His role is to act as liaison between Estate Research and our valued clients, ensuring an efficient and welcoming service.

Matthew joined Estate Research in 2023 and is responsible for the financial side of the business. His previous experience involves working for an accountancy firm for over 13 years and gaining his ACCA and AAT qualifications during this period. He has also worked in the international finance department of well known sports-fashion global PLC organisation.

Originally a genealogist with many years' experience in handling both low and high value estates, Matthew's role is to now act as the liaison and main point of contact between Estate Research and our clients - ensuring smooth service delivery.

Megan joined Estate Research in 2018 after graduating from the University of Liverpool with a First-Class Honours Degree in History. Working within our Public Sector department, Megan loves to mix with both colleagues and clients at conferences, training days and events.

Mia joined us as a team assistant and has successfully progressed to a Case Assistant and now to her current role as Private Client Case Manager.  

Mike joined Hammer Price Homes in 2017 having spent over 10 years in the banking & finance sector working mainly for a large custodian bank and a banking software company.

Michael previously spent 15 years working for a motor spare parts company, moving up to the role of Logistics Manager. He now enjoys supporting the finance team at Estate Research - assisting both the Private and Public Sector team.

Michaela joined Estate Research as a Private Client Team Administrator, bringing over 20 years experience working in an administration capacity, from an administrator role through to team management, training, and consultancy. She has a background in company finance and an NVQ level 3 in Customer Service. Michaela has now moved into a new role, working in our Marketing and Project Team, heavily supporting and promoting our award winning Learning Hub.

Molly graduated with a History degree from Liverpool John Moores in 2021 and moved to Italy to complete her MA in Public and Cultural Diplomacy at the University of Siena. She enjoyed the research aspect of her studies and looks forward to utilising her skills in her role at Estate Research.

Nicola has a wealth of experience in office administration and front of house. After working at an accountants office for 30 years, Nicola relished the change to a new industry.

Following her completion of her Masters degree in English Literature at Manchester Metropolitan University, Olivia joined Estate Research in 2021 with an enthusiasm to transfer her critical and analytical mindset into the genealogy sector. She enjoys using her eye for detail to overcome challenges and finds reward in successfully completing a task from start to finish.

Patrick is a Public Sector Manager at Estate Research. Our resident empty homes expert, Patrick works closely with a variety of local authority departments on Empty Homes projects, hosting webinars, attending conferences and is an active member of the Empty Homes Network.

Paula has worked in law for over 30 years as a Legal Executive, mainly in Family Law but has also covered work in other departments.  Paula was at her last firm for 15 years which dealt with numerous areas of law including probate.

Paula has decided to embrace a change.  She has always been interested in genealogy and has local knowledge of the firm.

Rachael has recently joined Hammer Price Homes having spent 13 years managing the day to day running of a high street Estate Agency. Rachael is now involved with the everyday operations associated with Hammer Price Homes online property auction.

Reah brings over a decade of experience in various administrative roles across multiple sectors. Currently, she supports case managers and collaborates with solicitors in the Ancillary Services department. She enjoys utilizing her organizational skills to manage daily tasks and is excited about her future in the genealogy industry.

Rebecca brings invaluable public sector knowledge to her role. She relishes the challenge of solving the more complex cases and the social aspect of welfare funeral work is particularly rewarding.

Rebecca is a member of the Professional Paralegal Register.

A member of the Professional Paralegal Register

Rebecca joined Estate Research in 2022, after 16 years working in Wills & Probate at various solicitors’ offices, managing her own caseload for the last eight years. She has completed her ILEX Level 3 in Wills, Succession, and Probate Practice and brings this expertise to her role as Senior Private Client Case Manager.

Richard joined Estate Research in 2023 to take up the newly created role of Key Accounts Manager. Richard is a highly experienced business development and client relationship manager, having previously worked for blue chip and start-up companies in legal services and insurance across the UK. As well as maintaining alliances with Key Account law firm partners, Richard is also instrumental in developing our LawTech strategy.

Sara joined Estate Research in 2025 after graduating from King’s College London with a degree in Psychology. She enjoys the investigative nature of genealogy research and the opportunity to uncover the human stories behind each case. Sara is particularly interested in how family histories connect people across generations.

Sharon joined Estate Research after an extensive career spanning over 20 years in mental health and more than 11 years in the legal sector. During her time in the Private Client department, she successfully managed her own caseload, specializing in Wills, Court of Protection, Lasting Powers of Attorney, and Probate and Administration. With a strong foundation in legal practice, Sharon holds a CILEX Level 3 Diploma in Law and Practice and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives . She is now looking forward to expanding her expertise and gain further experience in the field of genealogy.

Having spent 18 years working within an administration environment across various industries, Sharon has joined the Private Client Team to support them with day to day tasks.

Sharon joined Estate Research after working in the legal industry for almost 40 years.  She has extensive knowledge of the probate and conveyancing processes which will assist with genealogy cases.  Sharon has always been interested in ancestry and is looking forward to gaining experience in the genealogy field.  

Simon has been working in probate genealogy since 2005 and joined our team in 2017. Simon’s particular expertise relate to estates that originate overseas, in particular those from the USA. Simon enjoys the challenges and intricacies of international research.

Simon is a member of the Professional Paralegal Register.

Before joining the Estate Research Public Sector team, Stewart was a historian whose M.A., Ph.D. and subsequent research focused on 18th-century British and European history. He enjoys utilising archival material and other sources to help people uncover their family’s past.

Tom is a Manchester University graduate who moved into Estate Research following a decade in the retail sector. He joined the company in 2015 and has since progressed from Researcher to Deputy Head of Private Client. An affiliate of CILEX, Tom brings extensive experience and strong leadership to the Private Client department.

Tom is a member of the Professional Paralegal Register.

Having graduated from the University of York with a First Class Honours Degree in History, Wes spent 15 years as a school teacher before joining Estate Research.  Relishing the investigative challenge genealogy entails, he particularly enjoys archival research and relating family narratives to their historical context.

Having worked in the legal sector for 18 years Zoe was aware of the services genealogists provided. Bearing in mind that she has an innate passion for social history she didn’t hesitate to switch careers when the opportunity arose. She thoroughly enjoys the investigative nature of her job.

Zoe is a member of the Professional Paralegal Register.