My story

Hi, I’m Julie. I’m a genetic genealogist, family historian, and lifelong collector of stories, photographs, documents, and little details that turn a list of names and dates into real people.

If you are like me and have a DNA mystery in your family, come on over to Finding Family Network and see if we can help you

My interest in genealogy began with my own family, but over the years it has grown into something much more. DNA added an entirely new dimension to the search—and, in my own family, revealed that sometimes the truth isn’t quite the story that was handed down. Since then, I’ve helped others use traditional genealogy and genetic genealogy to answer questions about biological family, reconnect relatives, and put names back where they belong.

The Relative Truth is where I share some of those discoveries, along with the stories I uncover in my own family tree. Some are ordinary, some surprising, some funny, and some complicated. Because genealogy, I’ve learned, isn’t really about collecting names. It’s about discovering the people behind them—and Following the evidence wherever it leads.

I have completed the Investigative Genetic Genealogy Certificate program through Ramapo College and have worked on more than 200 genetic genealogy cases involving unknown parentage and family identification. I’m also a member of the National Genealogical Society, DAR, AHSGR, ISOGG, and IGGA, and I continue to study advanced genealogy and DNA research.