Our commitments
Our commitment to efficiency and quality
We are committed to deploying the best human and technological resources to bring you greater responsiveness in genealogical research, a high quality of relationship and the shortest possible lead times.
Expertise and rigor
- Over 280 passionate professionals
- Expert and complementary profiles: succession genealogists, legal researchers, historians, filiation experts, and international archives specialists
- Legal expertise and knowledge of succession taxation
Proximity and speed
- 36 offices in France and 11 abroad
- A single dedicated and committed point of contact who supports you from A to Z
- Thanks to our integrated international research team of multilingual experts, we are able to conduct genealogical research, locate and meet heirs quickly across all 5 continents
Operational excellence and technological innovation
- ADD Data: exclusive genealogical database with over 500 million digitized and indexed records
- Dematerialised genealogical chart (TGD)
- ADD Connect: a connected platform for real-time case tracking
- Electronic signature of documents
- ISO 9001-certified methods since 2008
Ethics, guarantees and certification: at the heart of our DNA
Because succession and inheritance issues are both complex and sensitive, ADD Associés places trust and ethics at the heart of its approach.
- We play an active role in the bodies that regulate our profession, which is itself governed by a code of ethics and a code of conduct.
- We provide high levels of guarantees that exceed the required standards.
- We have our working methods validated by certifying bodies.
Estate genealogy, a regulated profession
Our probate genealogy business is governed by article 36 of law no. 2006-728 of June 23, 2006 – the law reforming inheritance and gifts.
“Except in the case of successions subject to vacancy or escheat, no one may engage in or assist with the search for heirs in an open succession, or one in which an asset was omitted during the settlement of the estate, unless they hold a mandate granted for that purpose. The mandate may be given by any person with a direct and legitimate interest in identifying the heirs or settling the estate.”
The partners and associates of ADD Associés hold a professional card and benefit from specific authorizations issued by the Service Interministériel des Archives de France and the Procureur de la République of the Tribunal Judiciaire de Paris. These authorizations allow us to consult and obtain a copy of the civil status of people under 75 years of age.
Strong guarantees for our partners and customers
When a genealogist intervenes to certify the devolution of an estate, he or she assumes legal and financial responsibility by providing the liquidating notary with a certified table attesting to the devolution of the estate, or an attestation setting out our conclusions. Members of the Chambre syndicale des Généalogistes de France take out professional liability insurance.
ADD Associés has supplemented these systems with additional guarantees that provide essential protection for each of you, whether professional or heir.
- Professional Liability Insurance (MMA IARD N°127120688)
- Financial guarantee (with AMLIN INSURANCE SE N°2018PFC002)
- Secure third-party account with Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations
- Annual independent audit by KPMG
- Iso 9001 certification since December 17, 2008.
Ethics at the heart of our business
ADD Associés makes a major contribution to making probate genealogy a profession that offers every guarantee to those who call on our services.
Since its creation, ADD Associés has made a major contribution to the regulation and supervision of the profession, notably under the leadership of Antoine Djikpa, partner and today the group’s managing director. He was also elected Honorary President of Généalogistes de France. Antoine Delabre is currently Vice-Chairman.
Given the international stakes of the profession, ADD Associés was also one of the founding members of the international association IAPPR (The International Association of Professional Probate Researchers, Genealogists & Heir Hunters).
Mediation
In accordance with article R 612.1 of the French Consumer Code, all consumers have the right to have recourse, free of charge, to a consumer mediator with a view to the amicable resolution of a dispute between them and a professional.
The professional genealogy sector has set up a consumer ombudsman to promote the amicable resolution of contractual disputes concerning the performance of a contract or the supply of services. As such, the Union des généalogistes de France has appointed Mr Gérard GAUCHER as sector mediator for genealogists in France since July 12, 2016.
The ombudsman has his own website containing all the information needed by consumers wishing to contact him, and by professional genealogists taking part in mediation processes.