TERMS & CONDITIONS

The Family Detective — Client Terms & Conditions Last Updated: September 2026 By purchasing or requesting research services from The Family Detective, you agree to the following terms. 1. Our Service The Family Detective provides genealogical and historical research services. Depending on the investigation selected, research may include census records, vital records, newspapers, obituaries, military records, deeds, probate records, court records, church records, cemetery records, historical archives, family trees, DNA-match information, and other genealogical sources. The scope of research is determined by the investigation package purchased and the information provided by the client. 2. Research Is an Investigation — Results Are Not Guaranteed Payment is for the research work performed, not for a guaranteed discovery. Historical records may be missing, destroyed, unavailable, restricted, incorrectly indexed, contradictory, or may never have existed. The Family Detective therefore cannot guarantee that a particular ancestor, parent, relative, record, family connection, or answer will be found. A completed investigation may result in confirmed evidence, possible connections, unproven leads, conflicting evidence, or a determination that no relevant record could be located within the scope of the investigation. 3. Research Packages Services may include packages such as: Quick Case — $129 A focused investigation involving a specific person, record, relationship, or family-history question. Deep Case — $249 A more extensive investigation involving multiple people, records, locations, or related questions. DNA Match Investigation — $299 Genealogical analysis of DNA-match information together with family trees and historical records. Family Line Investigation — $399 Research intended to trace one family line through multiple generations using available documentary evidence. Unknown Parent/Grandparent Investigations — Starting at $499 Complex investigations may require individual review and customized pricing. The exact scope shown at checkout or agreed to for the client's case becomes part of the service agreement. 4. Evidence Standards The Family Detective attempts to distinguish between established facts and theories. Information may be classified as Confirmed Evidence, Possible Connection, Unproven Lead, or No Record Found. A possible connection should not be interpreted as a proven biological or genealogical relationship. Historical documents themselves can also contain errors. Conclusions may change if additional evidence becomes available. 5. Client Information Clients are responsible for providing information they reasonably believe to be accurate. Incorrect names, dates, locations, relationships, or other information may affect research results. Clients should not knowingly submit fraudulent documents or intentionally false information. 6. DNA Genealogy DNA Match Investigation is a genealogical research service. The Family Detective does not perform laboratory DNA testing and does not provide medical, health, diagnostic, forensic, or legal conclusions from DNA. DNA-related genealogical conclusions may be probabilistic and should be considered together with documentary evidence. Clients should only provide DNA-match information they are authorized to share. Unless specifically necessary and separately requested, clients should not upload raw DNA data files. 7. Sensitive Family Discoveries Genealogical research can reveal unexpected information, including previously unknown relatives, adoption, biological-parent relationships, name changes, conflicting parentage information, or other sensitive family circumstances. By requesting an investigation, the client acknowledges that unexpected discoveries may occur. The Family Detective will report relevant findings based on the available evidence without guaranteeing that those findings will match existing family beliefs or traditions. 8. Research Time and Scope Each package has a defined research scope. Purchasing a research service does not authorize unlimited research. If additional research is recommended beyond the purchased investigation, the client may be offered the opportunity to continue the investigation for an additional fee. No additional paid work should be performed without the client's authorization. 9. Third-Party Records and Services Research may rely upon archives, libraries, courthouses, government databases, genealogy databases, newspapers, cemetery databases, DNA services, and other third-party sources. The Family Detective does not control the availability, accuracy, pricing, or policies of third-party services. 10. Payments, Cancellations & Refunds Payment is required according to the price displayed when the investigation is purchased. Because researcher time is being purchased, refund eligibility may depend upon whether research has begun. A separate Refund & Cancellation Policy will explain applicable cancellation and refund rules and is incorporated into these Terms. 11. Case Files and Client Portal Clients may receive a unique Family Detective case number and access to the My Cases portal. Clients are responsible for protecting their login credentials. Only information approved for client release will appear within the customer-facing case file. Internal research notes, working theories, quality-control materials, and other internal research information may remain private. 12. Intellectual Property and Personal Use Clients may use their completed Family Detective reports and copies of research findings for personal and family-history purposes. Original third-party documents, photographs, databases, publications, and archival materials remain subject to any copyrights, licenses, access restrictions, or terms imposed by their respective owners. 13. Limitation of Service The Family Detective provides genealogical and historical research. Our research reports should not be treated as legal determinations of inheritance, citizenship, tribal membership, property ownership, probate rights, identity, or biological parentage. Where a legally binding determination is required, clients should consult the appropriate qualified professional or authority. 14. Communication Clients agree that The Family Detective may contact them regarding their investigation, including case updates, questions, discoveries, payment matters, and completion of the case. Marketing communications should be handled separately and subject to applicable consent requirements. 15. Changes to These Terms These Terms may be updated periodically. The terms applicable to a paid investigation should be those presented to the client when the service was purchased, except where changes are required by law or separately agreed upon. 16. Agreement By submitting payment for a Family Detective investigation, the client acknowledges that they have read and agree to these Terms & Conditions and the applicable Privacy and Refund/Cancellation policies.