How much does a genealogy report cost in 2026?
The price of a genealogy report is made up of a fixed service fee, which is known in advance, and variable authority fees, which depend on how many registries held the deceased's records after the age of 15.
Price summary
When the report is ordered as a service, the pricing is as follows:
| Fee | Amount | When invoiced |
|---|---|---|
| Service fee (incl. VAT 25.5%) | 79–159 € | At the time of order |
| Paper delivery (optional) | 10.00 € | At the time of order |
| Authority fees | Varies | Invoiced when the report is complete |
What does the 79 euro service fee cover?
The service fee covers the work required to compile a complete genealogy report:
- Registry history research: establishing which registries held the deceased's records throughout their life
- Ordering official certificates: requests to every relevant authority (EVL, DVV, the Orthodox Church, the National Archives and, when needed, Sweden)
- Tracking orders: following up and communicating with authorities if questions arise during processing
- Verifying the complete document set: ensuring that everything needed for the estate inventory and bank processing is included: the deceased's unbroken chain from age 15 to death, as well as certificates for heirs, spouses and, if needed, the deceased's parents
- Delivery: the completed documents are delivered securely, and if requested also by post
Why can't authority fees be quoted in advance?
Authority fees cannot be stated in advance, because the number of required certificates only becomes clear once the registry history has been researched.
Factors affecting authority fees
- Number of registrars: One certificate is needed from each registrar that has held the deceased's records after age 15. All Evangelical Lutheran membership periods are covered by a single order: moves and changes of parish within Finland do not increase the number of certificates. A new certificate is needed only when the registrar changes, for example after leaving the church or joining the Orthodox Church.
- Registry keepers: EVL, the Orthodox Church, DVV and the National Archives all have different pricing.
- Time period: Digitised records (before 1999) may carry different fees than electronic registry records.
- Family situation: If an heir died before the deceased or the deceased was childless, the number of required certificates increases.
Example: Simple case
The deceased belonged to the Evangelical Lutheran Church their entire life. Typically one genealogy certificate from EVL and possibly one from DVV are needed. Authority fees in such a case are typically around 120–250 euros.
Example: Complex case
The deceased changed register during their lifetime (e.g. left the church), older records are held by the National Archives, and one heir has residential history in Sweden. Orders go to multiple authorities, and fees can reach several hundred euros.
Are genealogy report costs tax-deductible?
Yes. Both the service fee and authority fees are deductible for inheritance tax purposes. They are recorded in the estate inventory deed as estate expenses, not as a personal tax deduction for any individual heir, and they can be paid from the estate's funds.
Comparison: DIY vs. professional service
When ordering yourself, the authority fees are identical. You save the 79–159 € service fee, but spend several hours researching registry history, sending orders to different authorities, and tracking progress. The service fee is equivalent to approximately 1–2 hours of professional work.