Loretta,

If the work is ordered and the search is completed the contract is completed, and payment is due. In so far as cancellation is concerned whether or not you are entitled to payment depends on the degree to which you agreed to their cancellation policy. Remember your contract law classes with respect to unilateral and bilateral contracts.

In this area my firm does not charge a company for a search if the cancellation is made prior to our leaving the office to perform the search. If the search is completed before the client cancels, payment in full is due. All of our clients understand this. If the cancellation is made after we leave the office but before we complete the search, we charge a partial fee. With the price of gasoline this is reasonable because the client has required you to incur an expense.

You should contact your clients, and explain your position as to cancellation. If they assign you additional work, you have not agreed to the cancellation and the work was completed before it was cancelled, I would say that you are entitled to payment.