Roots Expert

Identify Family

Michelle Trostler

Let DNA Show You The Way

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Phone: +1-760-716-8650

How they can help

Remote research

Researches in: United States · California
Based in: United States · California
Languages: English

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About

Genetic genealogist specializing in unknown parentage cases using DNA and traditional genealogical research. 13+ years of experience solving adoption, donor conception, foundling, and NPE mysteries.

Michelle Trostler is an avid genetic genealogist and founder of Identify Family. She has 13+ years of success in genetic genealogy since solving her first adoption case in 2013. Michelle specializes in resolving family mysteries through DNA analysis combined with traditional genealogical research, with particular expertise in unknown parentage cases including adoptees, donor-conceived individuals, foundlings, and NPE (Not the Parent Expected) situations. She has attended and spoken at the Institute for Genetic Genealogy conferences (2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025) and completed advanced training including the Council for the Advancement of Forensic Genealogy's Advanced DNA Practicum (2015, 2016) and the Advanced Genetic Genealogy course at the Genealogical Research Institute, Pittsburgh (2018), all taught by CeCe Moore. Michelle holds a BA in Sociology from UC San Diego and an MA in Sociology from USC.

Specialties

genetic genealogy
DNA research
unknown parentage
adoptee cases
donor conception
foundlings
NPE (Not the Parent Expected)
family tree brick walls
adoption cases

Additional credentials

BA in Sociology from UC San Diego; MA in Sociology from USC; Advanced DNA Practicum from Council for the Advancement of Forensic Genealogy (2015, 2016); Advanced Genetic Genealogy course from Genealogical Research Institute, Pittsburgh (2018); Institute for Genetic Genealogy — conference_attendance_and_speaking; Council for the Advancement of Forensic Genealogy — advanced_practicum; Genealogical Research Institute, Pittsburgh — advanced_course

California, United States

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