The hardest cases are when only a fragment survives: a name without a surname, a year without a month. This article is the practical workbook.
Surname + name, no patronymic: 60–75% success in Tashkent — common for Bukharian Jewish families and pre-revolutionary lines. Surname + year, no patronymic or exact date: 70–85% — well-suited to archive search. Maiden name only (woman died under husband's name): 50–70% — work back through marriage records.
Approximate year (5+ year window): 60% over 2–4 weeks of systematic photo-walking the relevant cemetery section. Name only, no surname: 10–20% — usually we recommend not starting unless cemetery section is very narrow.
Boosters: a photograph (for ceramic-portrait comparison), names of spouse and children, profession, ethnicity, military service.
Frequently asked questions
Case by case. After a free initial consultation we estimate hours and cost — usually 1.5–3× the standard tariff.
You pay only for hours actually worked. If the search hits a dead end at half the budget, we stop and refund the rest.