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Archiver > APG > 2008-07 > 1216404346


From: Gary Mokotoff <>
Subject: Re: [APG] Multi-year project and client may now be extremely ill
Date: Fri, 18 Jul 2008 14:05:46 -0400
References: <mailman.52242.1216400578.9525.apg@rootsweb.com>
In-Reply-To: <mailman.52242.1216400578.9525.apg@rootsweb.com>


Nancy's dilemma regarding getting paid now that it appears that a client may
be gravely ill reminds me of a situation posed to me a number of years ago.
A professional genealogist was approached by a family whose son was dying of
leukemia and they wanted to retain her to find distant relatives who might
be a successful bone marrow transplant.

"How can I charge this family for my services," this APG member asked me.
"They are asking me to save a life."

My response was "Does their oncologist charge for his services?"

Nancy should deal solely with her client and insist she get paid with the
regularity she has been previously paid; perhaps even quicker now that she
knows there is a change of circumstance. Filing a claim against an estate is
not a solution. The estate might deny the claim in which case you get
involved in expensive litigation.

Gary Mokotoff

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