How we work
A research case built around your goals.
MAGENHA researches baptismal, marriage, and burial entries in Catholic ecclesiastical records, and builds each case around the family question being asked.
We reconstruct family lines, review and verify previous genealogies, analyze the information already available, and identify relevant ancestors, locations, parishes, and archives. We work especially with sources that may be difficult to access or unavailable online.
Availability is evaluated case by case and depends on the locality, period, archive, survival of the records, and current access.
Before beginning registration, we conduct a brief feasibility review of the location, period, and type of research. If we cannot accept the request, the registration process does not begin.
If the request is accepted, we explain any applicable registration amount and the detailed conditions privately, before formal case planning or coordination starts. Registration is separate from later charges for records or other research.
Registration is not a membership or subscription. Clients with an ongoing or recent relationship do not repeat it. When a former client returns after an extended period of inactivity, we review the case individually and explain privately whether current registration or reactivation conditions apply before work resumes.
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Tell us what you are looking for
Share your goal and the family information you already have.
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We check current coverage
Our brief feasibility review confirms whether we can reasonably accept the request.
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We confirm your client status
Accepted new clients—and long-inactive returning clients when applicable—receive the registration or reactivation conditions privately.
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Formal work begins
We open the file and start substantive review, planning, and collaborator coordination.
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Later charges remain separate
Record and research charges follow the applicable amounts and conditions described below and are communicated in advance.
Research process
What happens after planning.
Once the research plan has been prepared, our local collaborators may visit Catholic parishes and diocesan archives to consult baptismal, marriage, and burial registers. These sources may be difficult to access, incompletely indexed, or entirely unavailable online.
The duration varies considerably according to the location and accessibility of the records. In many cases we obtain results within approximately three weeks, although some searches take longer.
Historical records are not always preserved, indexed correctly, or located where expected. If a document cannot be found, we may reassess the available evidence and determine whether other reasonable avenues of research remain.
Time estimates are not guarantees. Archive access, the survival and organization of records, and collaborator availability can all affect a search.
Records & contributions
What you receive and what it costs.
Whenever we locate a relevant document, we carefully analyze and transcribe it. Our transcriptions are prepared by collaborators experienced in reading historical handwriting and old ecclesiastical records.
In many archives—particularly ecclesiastical archives—photography of the original books is restricted or prohibited. For this reason, our research output often consists of a carefully prepared transcription rather than a photograph.
We generally avoid requesting formal ecclesiastical certificates unless there is a specific reason to do so. They can take considerably longer to obtain and may contain mistakes when historical handwriting is difficult to interpret.
Respecting archive restrictions. Many Bishoprics and repositories ask that material located in their collections not be posted on websites or other public platforms. MAGENHA therefore delivers client research for personal use only; it may not be transferred or published, subject to the limited excerpt and reference exception in our Terms.
US$5–30
approximate reference range per genealogical document
This is guidance, not a fixed price list. The applicable amount depends on the record, locality, difficulty, research context, and broader research plan. Contact MAGENHA for an individual evaluation and the conditions that apply.
After the contribution is received, we normally deliver the completed transcription within 24 hours and, when appropriate, suggest possible next steps for continuing the genealogy.
Current payment methods
- Zelle
- PayPal
- Bizum, where applicable
- Cryptocurrency
- Other methods by prior arrangement
Research areas
Current geographic coverage.
Established service
Cuba
Our local collaborators work with Catholic parish and diocesan records of baptism, marriage, and burial where access is available. The exact parishes and diocesan repositories we can cover may change, so every request begins with a feasibility check.
Limited service
Spain
We are beginning to offer research in selected Bishoprics and locations while our collaborator network develops.
When we can consider research in Spain
- It continues genealogical research MAGENHA has already conducted for the client; or
- The client has sufficiently precise information identifying the person, location, parish, or archive, preferably supported by existing documentation.
We are currently unable to accept broad or speculative searches throughout Spain without a clearly identified location. Research in Spain is evaluated individually; availability and applicable conditions depend on the Bishopric, archive, locality, information already available, and current access.
Y-DNA & mtDNA
Lineage Research Program.
Voluntary · documentary · case by case
Clients who already have—or independently obtain—a relevant Y-DNA or mtDNA result may ask MAGENHA to evaluate the corresponding direct paternal or maternal lineage.
The tested person does not have to be the client. It may be an appropriate relative who represents the relevant direct paternal line for Y-DNA or direct maternal line for mtDNA.
What the program may support
If a lineage falls within the places and periods MAGENHA can research, the project may cover up to 100% of the standard genealogical research needed to document that specific uniparental line.
How eligibility is decided
Geographic, chronological, archival, and research capacity are evaluated individually. A DNA result does not by itself guarantee acceptance or a particular level of support.
Testing remains entirely in your hands
DNA testing is completely voluntary and is never required to use MAGENHA’s normal genealogy services. The client independently chooses and buys the test, submits the sample, manages the testing account, and receives the results. MAGENHA does not collect biological samples or operate a testing laboratory.
What MAGENHA does not request
- Login credentials or passwords
- Access to FamilyTreeDNA or other testing accounts
- Raw DNA files or match lists
- Broader private genetic information
For a program evaluation, it is normally enough to know the reported Y-DNA or mtDNA haplogroup, who was tested, and how that person connects genealogically to the relevant lineage.
The documentary principle
A haplogroup does not replace genealogy.
The program does not exist to sell DNA tests. Its purpose is to preserve direct paternal and maternal lineages before opportunities to test them disappear and to connect haplogroups with well-documented historical genealogies: ancestors, dates, places, migrations, parishes, municipalities, and a defensible chain of descent.
Important distinction
Genealogical research and legal purposes.
MAGENHA provides genealogical and historical research. Our research is not specifically intended as a document-procurement service for citizenship, nationality, inheritance, immigration, court proceedings, or other legal or administrative procedures.
Some historical information we locate may be useful to clients pursuing such matters, but we cannot guarantee that a transcription, record, or research result will satisfy the evidentiary requirements of a government authority, consulate, court, church authority, or other institution.
If you require a document for legal or administrative purposes, independently confirm the type of certificate or official copy required by the relevant authority before proceeding.
First contact
Tell us about your research question.
Use this short form for a first evaluation. It prepares a structured email draft in your own email application; it does not send or store anything on this website.
Service agreement
Terms & conditions
Last updated August 14, 2026
By asking MAGENHA to begin formal research or by paying an applicable fee or contribution, you acknowledge the terms below. We will communicate the scope and applicable amount before requesting payment.
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Registration for new and returning clients
- Effective date and eligibility. Beginning August 14, 2026, the one-time paid registration policy applies to new genealogy research clients whose requests MAGENHA can accept. A returning client who has been inactive for an extended period is evaluated individually and may be subject to the same registration requirement. Any applicable amount and conditions are communicated privately before payment or formal case planning.
- Feasibility review first. We conduct a limited review to determine whether the requested location, period, and type of research fall within our current coverage. Registration does not begin if we cannot accept the request at that stage.
- One-time process. If we can accept the request, a new client—or a returning client when determined after individual review—completes the applicable registration before formal case planning or coordination begins. Registration is not a membership or subscription.
- What registration covers. Registration supports the initial substantive review, creation and organization of the client file, initial planning, collaborator coordination, and maintenance of the client’s research history.
- Separate research charges. Registration does not include or prepay a record, certificate, archive charge, or later research service. Any additional amount is quoted separately before payment is requested.
- No guarantee of results. Registration does not guarantee that a particular record will be found or that every future request can be accepted. Record survival, access, location, and collaborator availability may affect the outcome.
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Payments, results & delivery
- Except for any applicable one-time registration amount described above, payment for a record is requested only when a record has been successfully located and prepared, unless we agree otherwise with you in writing before work begins.
- When we have a result, we contact you, explain what was found, and confirm the applicable amount before requesting payment.
- Research results and completed transcriptions are delivered after payment is received in full.
- MAGENHA does not publish a rigid fixed-price list. Genealogical records generally fall within an approximate reference range of US$5–30 per document. The applicable amount depends on the record, locality, difficulty, research context, and broader research plan.
- The reference range is guidance rather than a quote. We evaluate each request individually and communicate the applicable scope, amount, and conditions before requesting payment.
- Available payment methods may vary by client location and are confirmed when payment is requested.
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Timing, access & research limits
- Any stated timeframe is an estimate and not a guaranteed completion date.
- Research depends on the survival, organization, accessibility, and accuracy of historical records, as well as archive rules and collaborator availability.
- A missing result does not establish that an event did not occur. A record may be lost, damaged, misindexed, held elsewhere, or inaccessible.
- MAGENHA may recommend a revised research path when the original search does not produce a result.
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Transcriptions, images & certificates
- The standard research output may be a transcription rather than a photograph when repository rules restrict photography.
- Formal certificates are requested only when specifically agreed and may require additional time and cost.
- Although transcriptions are prepared carefully, historical handwriting, damaged documents, and inconsistent spelling can create uncertainty. Any uncertainty identified by the transcriber will be noted where practical.
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Y-DNA & mtDNA Lineage Research Program
- Voluntary participation. DNA testing is never required for MAGENHA’s standard genealogy services. A client with a relevant Y-DNA or mtDNA result may request an evaluation of the corresponding direct paternal or maternal lineage; the tested person may be the client or an appropriate relative.
- Individual evaluation. If the lineage is within a locality and period MAGENHA can research, the project may cover up to 100% of the standard genealogical research needed to document that specific uniparental line. Eligibility, scope, support, and applicable conditions are evaluated individually and confirmed before work begins.
- Independent testing. The client and tested person handle the entire testing process independently, including purchasing the test, submitting the sample, managing the account, and receiving results. MAGENHA does not collect biological samples or operate a testing laboratory.
- Limited information. MAGENHA does not request credentials, passwords, access to testing accounts, raw DNA files, match lists, or broader private genetic information. Normally, the reported haplogroup, the identity of the tested person, and the genealogical connection to the relevant lineage are sufficient for evaluation.
- Purpose and evidence. The program preserves paternal and maternal lineages and connects haplogroups with documented historical genealogies; it does not sell DNA tests. A haplogroup does not replace a defensible documentary chain of descent.
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Legal & administrative use
- MAGENHA provides genealogical and historical research, not legal advice or guaranteed document procurement for a legal or administrative process.
- We do not guarantee that a transcription, image, certificate, or research conclusion will be accepted by any authority.
- The client is responsible for confirming the evidentiary requirements of the relevant authority before commissioning research or requesting a certificate.
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Use of research materials delivered to clients
- Because many Bishoprics and archives ask us not to disseminate located archival material on websites or other online platforms, documents, transcriptions, images, and research information delivered by MAGENHA are provided for the client’s personal use only. They may not be transferred to another person or published, including online.
- A client may quote a brief fragment or cite a specific reference contained in a document, provided that doing so does not reproduce or expose the document itself and complies with any restriction imposed by the relevant archive or Bishopric.
- Whenever possible, we ask that such use state: “Research conducted by MAGENHA.”
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Use of MAGENHA’s public content
- Printed materials and presentations may reproduce selected content from MAGENHA blog posts when they credit Mapa Genealógico de Haplogrupos and include a link to magenha.org or the original post.
- Internet and electronic reproductions should be limited to selected quotations or an original summary and must link to the original post. Extensive reproduction of a post is not permitted without prior agreement.
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Changes & acceptance of work
- We may update these Terms & Conditions. Material changes will be posted on this page or communicated directly when relevant to an active case.
- We reserve the right to decline a request when it is outside our coverage, resources, expertise, or ethical standards.
About Project MAGENHA
Preserve, connect, and share.
Project MAGENHA exists to preserve genealogical knowledge and keep fragile lines of evidence connected across generations. We bring documentary genealogy into conversation with Y-DNA and mtDNA haplogroups and help protect direct paternal and maternal lineages before the opportunity to test them disappears.
Our public mission also promotes interest in genealogy, genetics, archaeology, population history, and related fields. Funds collected by the project are allocated exclusively through the United States or Spain and are not transferred to countries such as Cuba, Venezuela, or Nicaragua.
Support the project without becoming a client
Watch, subscribe, comment, and share.
Our videos and conversations make the work available beyond individual research cases.