Currently accepting clients for...

• DNA
• Family History Research
• Speaking / Presenting
• Writing /Publishing
• Other Speciality

My specialty is:

• Genealogy research in Norway and Norwegians in North America - ancestors and descendants.
• Transmigration in the UK
• Forensic Genealogy
• DNA as a tool to find relatives
• Heritage trips
  • Find your family farm or place in Norway
  • Living relatives

Geographic Specialities
Norway and the Upper Midwest in the US. I have been researching where the Norwegians settled in USA and Canada.

Testimonials

• «I have been trying to research our Norwegian relatives for my family over the past year and found it extremely difficult to do on my own not understanding Norwegian or knowing where to find the information. I was lucky to find Liv on a professional genealogy website. When searching for a genealogist, I found Liv was highly recommended by many of her colleagues. Working with her I found her to be a true professional genealogist, researcher and very hard working. She has uncovered information and facts on our family that we could have never found. I would highly recommend Liv to anyone who wants to explore their Norwegian ancestry. Liv has given us a gift that will last generations. Thank you Liv!» Lorri, Australia (June 2021)
• "The result of her work was presented in a very clear and user-friendly way, with an overview of ancestral lines as well as detailed information about each person. Her work comes across as solid and very professional. I can, without hesitation, recommend Liv Marit as an expert in genealogy."

Publications/Media

• A Guide to Norwegian Genealogy, Emigration, and Transmigration, selfpublishing 2022 - https://www.amazon.com/Guide-Norwegian-Genealogy-Emigration-Transmigration/dp/B0B6XJJXK2/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1664543023&sr=8-1
• Slektsgransking med dataveiledning, Orion Forlag 2001 (Genealogy and computers, revised edition 2004).
• Slektsgranskerens guide til utvandringen 1825-1930, Orion Forlag 2008 (The Genealogist's Guide to Emigration 1825-1930).
• Slektsgransking. Steg for steg med praktiske eksempler, Aschehoug Forlag 2010 (Genealogy. Step by step with practical examples).
• Min slekt nyttige notater og utfyllingsskjema i slektsgransking, Vigmostad & Bjorke 2012.
• Min slekt skjemahefte, Vigmostad & Bjorke 2012.
• Slektsgranskerens guide til utvandringen 1825-1930, Vigmostad & Bjorke 2013 (The Genealogist's Guide to Emigration 1825-1930).
• Paa sporet av familien, Vigmostad & Bjorke 2015 (a book about Norwegian Genealogy).
• Several articles and genealogy books - see https://www.genealogi.no/wiki/index.php/Liv_Marit_Haakenstad

Lectures

• How to start searching for your Norwegian Ancestors?
  • Where to start the Search in your homeland to find your ancestors in Norway.
  • How to combine sources from ex. USA with sources in Norway 
• How to search The Digital Archive of Norway?
  • Different ways of searching - categories, places, dates, and names.
  • How to find your relatives in scanned sources
• The emigration from Norway
  • The first organized emigration started in 1825 from Norway - what do we know about the first emigrants and their journey?
  • Where did the Norwegian settle?
  • How did they organize their settlements?
  • Did they keep their language, names, and traditions?
  • Norwegians in USA - still a strong community?
• How to find your family farm in Norway?
  • Norway have had different systems for farm numbers over time. How to find the correct one? This is important if you are making a heritage trip in Norway, 
• Norwegian-American newspapers - what could you find about your ancestors?
  • What could you expect to find in the Newspaper?
  • How could this information be combined with other sources?
• DNA from a Classic Genealogist's Point of View
  • Haakenstad has experience from working with the Norwegian police to solve a cold case. She has also solved several cases with a combination of classical genealogy and DNA.
• Transmigration through Great Britain
  • Between 1860 and 1915 the Norwegians emigrated through Great Britain on their way to America. 
  • What routes did they take?
  • Could we find trace of them in Britsh sources?
• Writing your family history
  • How to collect and organize your material
  • How to select the information you want to use
  • How to do proper source citation
  • What to write and how to write the story
  • Pictures and illustrations - what is copyrighted and how to get permission for print 

Research Time Periods

• 21st Century
• 20th Century
• 19th Century
• 18th Century

Languages
English, Norwegian/Danish, Swedish

Honorifics/Credentials
AG®, AGL™

Affiliations

• Association of Professional Genealogists
• Genealogical Speakers Guild
• ​The Association of Genealogy Educators and Schools
• National Genealogical Society
• Norwegian American Historical Association
• American Studies Association of Norway (AsaNor)
• Norwegian Immigration Association
• The Norwegian Genealogical Society (Norsk slektshistorisk forening)
• Genealogy Society of Norway (Slekt og data)
• Vestoppland slektshistorielag
• Westby Area Historical Society
• Norsk Mediehistorisk Forening (Norwegian Media Historical Association)

Degrees

• Master in Nonfiction Writing (The University of South-Eastern Norway (USN)
• Norwegian Genealogy (Volda University College)
• Local History (Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (HVL)
• History, some subjects (Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU))
• Cand. mag. (teacher, 4 years) ( Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences)
• Trace DNA Academy