The Legal Side:
Legal Disclaimer and Terms of Service
By engaging the services of Family Forge Genealogical Services ("FFGS," "we," "us," or "our"), you ("Client") acknowledge and agree to the following legally binding terms and conditions:
1. Scope of Service
FFGS provides historical and genealogical research services. All research is conducted with professionalism, integrity, and due diligence, using available public and private records, archives, and third-party data sources. While we strive for accuracy and comprehensiveness, the nature of historical records means that results may be incomplete, ambiguous, or unattainable due to lost, damaged, inaccessible, or non-existent documentation.
2. No Guarantee of Results
We do not and cannot guarantee that any specific information, ancestry connection, or historical record will be found. The Client acknowledges that the absence of conclusive documentation is not evidence of inadequate service or negligence, but rather a known and common limitation of genealogical and historical research.
3. Payment and Fees
All fees are agreed upon prior to the commencement of research, either in writing or via documented verbal agreement. By engaging our services, you commit to full payment for time and resources invested, regardless of outcome. FFGS retains the right to seek full payment for time worked, including in the absence of final deliverables, where documented effort has been made and accounted for.
Failure to render payment for agreed-upon work—whether through avoidance, post-service denial, or withdrawal from a verbal or written agreement—may result in legal and/or collections action. The Client accepts responsibility for any associated legal or administrative costs in such a case.
4. Evidence-Based Research
FFGS adheres to professional genealogical standards and employs best practices in verifying data. Where direct documentation does not exist, we may rely on indirect, circumstantial, or inferential evidence. In such cases, the reasoning and methodology will be disclosed transparently to the Client.
The Client may request additional validation; however, FFGS will not be held liable for the absence of data if reasonable searches and efforts have been made and documented.
5. Limitation of Liability
Under no circumstance shall FFGS, its owner(s), or contractors be held liable for damages resulting from the use, misuse, interpretation, or reliance upon research findings. The Client accepts that all materials provided are for informational and educational purposes and must be interpreted with the understanding of genealogical limitations.
6. Intellectual Property and Usage
All reports, charts, images, research summaries, and digital products remain the intellectual property of FFGS until full payment has been received. After payment, the Client is granted a non-exclusive license for personal use. Any redistribution, resale, or public display of FFGS materials without prior written permission is prohibited.
7. Jurisdiction
This agreement shall be governed by and interpreted under the laws of the Province of Saskatchewan and the federal laws of Canada. In the event of dispute, legal recourse must be sought in the courts of Saskatchewan.
8. International Clients
Clients outside of Canada are bound by these terms and agree that any dispute resolution shall occur within the jurisdiction of Saskatchewan, Canada. All clients are subject to Canadian privacy and consumer protection laws as applicable.
By engaging the services of Family Forge Genealogical Services, you agree to the above terms in full. If you do not agree, do not proceed with engaging our services.
For questions or clarifications, please contact:
Email: contact@familyforge.ca
Location: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada