About Me

Brittany Silva

BA History, Montclair State University | Educator | Historian

As a trained historian with a Bachelor’s degree in History from Montclair State University, I bring years of experience in archival research and genealogical investigation to every project. I specialize in helping families uncover their roots, trace their lineage, and preserve their stories for generations to come.

Fluent in Portuguese and highly proficient in Spanish, Italian, and French, I can translate documents across these languages and navigate historical records from multiple countries. I’m also skilled in deciphering hard-to-read handwriting, including old scripts and faded records, ensuring even the most challenging sources are accessible.

Whether you’re seeking to build your family tree, solve a long-standing mystery, or retrieve original documents from international archives, I offer personalized and meticulous research tailored to your goals.

Basic Services

1. Initial Consultation – Free (15–20 minutes)

Discuss your goals, available information, and what records might exist.

2. Starter Research Package – $300

Includes:

• Up to 4 hours of research

• Brief summary report (PDF) written in narrative form

• Copies of up to 5 digital documents

• Google Drive Folder of documents attached to narrative summary report

• Recommendations for further research

3. Hourly Research – $30/hr

Additional research beyond starter package or custom requests. Includes progress updates and document access.

4. Family Tree Chart – $50

Visual family tree (PDF or printed version). Includes up to 3 generations.

5. Record Retrieval Service – $35/request + cost of document

For physical or hard-to-find documents from archives, courthouses, or libraries. So any time I have to track down a specific record from an archive, I'll charge $35 fee to drive there and find it, and whatever the retrieval cost is from that organization. 

6. Brick Wall Analysis – $75 flat rate

One-time deep dive on a specific research challenge (e.g., missing ancestor, unknown parent, immigration records).

7. Document Transcription - $50-$75

I'll do the hard work of deciphering old fashioned and hard to red historic documents for you, providing you with a clear and easy to read transcription of your document. 

Portuguese Genealogy Research for Citizenship

Portuguese Ancestry Starter - $250-$350

5 hours of research, document copies, summary (ENG or PT)

Document Retrieval Only - $50 + doc fees

One record from archives (e.g., birth/baptism, marriage, immigration)

Document Translation and Transcription - $75-$150

A-la-carte translation and transcription services can also include notarization, Proxies, and other paperwork required for the citizenship process. 

Family Tree Report (Portuguese Line) $400-$800

• 3+ generations traced in Portugal, includes sources and tree chart with a narrative report, and 5-8 documents.

• Option to be made into a keepsake book and displayable family tree

Why Hire A Professional Genealogist?

• Ability to interpret handwritten Portuguese records (many Americans can't)

• Knowledge of local geography, naming patterns, and emigration routes

• Direct contact with Portuguese municipal, church, or district archives

• Potential for translation of documents or letters

• Optional delivery of reports in English or Portuguese