What's the difference between hiring a forensic genealogist and a commercial heir-tracing firm for an estate?

A forensic genealogist is typically an independent researcher or small practice retained directly, usually paid an hourly or flat fee, who focuses on the research itself: building out a family tree, tracking down vital records, and producing a report a court or the PGT can rely on. A commercial heir-tracing firm is often a larger operation that may combine genealogical research with locating and contacting beneficiaries, and frequently works on a contingency basis, taking a percentage of a found heir's inheritance instead of billing the estate directly.

The right choice depends on the situation. A straightforward search for a single missing beneficiary whose general whereabouts are roughly known might not need a full commercial tracing operation. A complex intestacy with many possible distant relatives across different countries, where nobody yet knows who the heirs even are, is often where a specialized tracing firm's broader resources are worth the contingency cost.

Either way, an estate trustee should get a clear written scope and fee arrangement before engaging anyone, and should confirm the arrangement is reasonable given the size of the estate, since the trustee remains accountable to the court and to the other beneficiaries for how much of the estate this kind of search actually costs.