Terms of Service

Privacy Policy

Last updated: 30 September 2026

At ForeverDear | Branches, we respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal data. This Privacy Notice explains how we collect, use, and safeguard your information when you visit our website, register an account or participate in our genealogical research groups.

1. Who We Are
   ForeverDear | Branches is a collaborative genealogy platform designed to help researchers connect, share historical records and trace family lines.

Website: https://branches.foreverdear.net

2. What Information We Collect
   When you use our platform, we may collect and process the following types of data:

• Account Information: Your chosen username, name, and email address provided during registration.
• Profile & Community Data: Information you choose to add to your profile, messages, group contributions, discussion replies and photos or documents uploaded to group albums or discussion threads.
• Technical Data: Standard internet log information and details of your behaviour patterns using analytics (such as Google Analytics), which help us understand how visitors navigate the site so we can improve user experience.

3. How We Use Your Information
   We use your personal data lawfully and transparently for the following purposes:

• Account Management: To set up, manage, and secure your free user account.
• Community Collaboration: To enable you to join public groups and private family branch groups, participate in discussions and share genealogical findings.
• Communication: To send you essential service updates, password resets or notifications regarding your group memberships and invites.
• Site Improvement: To monitor site traffic and troubleshoot technical issues via analytics.

4. Cookies and Analytics
   Our website uses cookies and similar technologies (including Google Analytics) to ensure the site functions properly and to analyse site traffic. When you first visit our site, you can manage your cookie preferences via our cookie banner. You can also configure your browser to refuse cookies, though some features of the platform may not function as intended without them.
5. Data Sharing and Security
   We do not sell, trade or rent your personal data to third parties.

• Information you post publicly in public groups (such as townland discussions or shared albums) is visible to the public. Private family branch groups are restricted to approved members only.
• We implement appropriate security measures on our hosting infrastructure to protect your personal information from unauthorised access, loss or alteration.

6. Your Rights
   Under UK data protection laws, you have the right to:

• Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
• Rectification: Ask us to correct any inaccurate or incomplete information.
• Erasure: Request that we delete your account and personal data (subject to any legal or administrative retention needs).

Withdraw Consent: Opt-out of non-essential communications or data collection at any time.

7. Changes to This Privacy Notice
   We may update this Privacy Notice from time to time to reflect changes in our platform or legal requirements. Any updates will be posted directly on this page with a revised “Last updated” date.
8. Contact Us
   If you have any questions about this Privacy Notice, your personal data, or how we manage the platform, please reach out to us directly via info@foreverdear.net