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In depth
An eligibility assessment (also called an eligibility opinion or eligibility memo) is the written evaluation of whether a person qualifies for CBD, produced by Ancestra after the initial consultation and due diligence. It cites the specific statute, consular venue, and timeline that applies to the case.
Ancestra's eligibility assessment includes: (1) the client's ancestry (family tree back to the anchor ancestor), (2) the legal basis for the claim (statutes, case law, regulations), (3) the documentary evidence available and needed, (4) potential disqualifiers or risks, (5) the recommended filing venue (consular, judicial, or administrative), and (6) the estimated timeline and fixed fee.
The eligibility assessment is provided free of charge after the initial consultation. It is conducted under strict confidentiality, so the client can speak candidly without fear of disclosure.
Related terms
Due diligence is the investigation and verification of facts before accepting a CBD case, including verifying the client's ancestry and the availability of documentary evidence.
A retainer is a formal agreement between a client and a lawyer establishing the scope of legal services and the fee arrangement, required before Ancestra begins work on a CBD case.
Citizenship by descent (CBD) is the legal right to acquire a country's citizenship through one's ancestors — typically a parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent — without being born in that country, based on the principle of jus sanguinis.
An engagement letter is a written agreement specifying the terms of legal services, synonymous with retainer in CBD practice.
A fixed fee is a flat-rate pricing model where the total cost of legal services is agreed in advance, in contrast to hourly billing, used by Ancestra for all CBD cases.
A conflict check is the process of verifying that a lawyer can represent a client without a conflict of interest, performed before Ancestra accepts a new CBD case.