Website Terms of Use

Website Terms of Use v1.3

Friar Genealogical Research, LLC
Last updated: August 2026

  1. Acceptance of Terms

Welcome to the website of Friar Genealogical Research, LLC (“Friar Research,” “we,” “us,” or “our”). By accessing or using friarresearch.com (the “Website”), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Use and all applicable laws. If you do not agree to these terms, you must immediately stop using this Website.

  1. Scope of Use and Authorized Professional Use
    Friar Research grants users a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to access and view this Website.
  • Authorized Professional & Official Use: We explicitly permit private probate attorneys, estate administrators, legal professionals, law enforcement personnel, medical examiners, coroners, and authorized government officials to access this Website to evaluate our capabilities or initiate contact.
  • Website vs. Service Distinction: Browsing this Website or submitting an inquiry form does not constitute an engagement, contract, or investigative agreement. Official forensic, investigative, or genetic genealogy services are governed strictly by separate, formal written contracts (e.g., Services Agreements or Statements of Work)
  • No Financial Transactions: This Website does not process payments, retainers, or financial transactions. We do not host user accounts, client portals, or member log-ins. Any financial arrangements or professional project registrations occur entirely outside of this Website framework. 
  • Prohibited Actions: You agree not to modify, distribute, transmit, or repost any text, graphics, ancestral charts, or case summaries for external commercial distribution without our prior written consent.
  • Artificial Intelligence & Data Scraping Ban: Engage in the automated scraping, harvesting, extraction, or processing of any text, ancestral charts, case summaries, compliance frameworks, or custom graphic assets from this Website for the purpose of training machine learning systems, artificial intelligence (AI), software algorithms, or large language models (LLMs) without explicit, separate written authorization from Friar Research.
  • Cyber-Attack and Hostile Infiltration Disclaimer: You explicitly acknowledge that this Website is a static informational portal and does not possess public upload fields, user portals, or interactive content features. Any third-party data, images, text, links, or malicious code appearing on this Website as a result of a security breach, unauthorized server access, system exploit, or malicious cyber-attack (“Defacement Content”) is strictly unauthorized by Friar Research. Friar Research assumes zero liability for such Defacement Content. The appearance of unauthorized third-party assets during a cyber-incident shall not be construed as an intentional distribution, display, licensing, or adoption of that content by Friar Research.

 3. Informational Purposes and No Professional Advice

The content on this Website—including case summaries, legal framework descriptions, methodology overviews, and blog posts—is provided for informational and marketing purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice, formal forensic conclusions, or expert genealogical opinions. You should not rely on website content to make legal, estate, or investigative decisions.

 4. Intellectual Property and Copyright

All content, design, layouts, logos, case studies, and custom graphics on this Website are protected by United States and international copyright, trademark, and intellectual property laws. All rights are reserved by Friar Research. Unauthorized use of our materials will result in immediate termination of your permission to use this Website and may subject you to legal liability.

4.1 DMCA & Third-Party Copyright Infringement Notices
Friar Research respects the intellectual property rights of others. If you believe that any content submitted by users or hosted on this Website infringes upon your copyright, you may submit a digital notice to our designated agent at Hello@friarresearch.com. Your notice must include a description of the copyrighted work, proof of ownership or registration, the specific URL or location on our Website where the material is located, and your direct contact information. Upon receipt and verification of a valid, lawful claim, we will review the matter and take appropriate action in accordance with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).

  1. Submissions, Inquiries, and Privacy Boundaries
  • No Confidential Case Material: Do not submit highly sensitive, protected, or confidential investigative data (such as raw DNA files, sensitive law enforcement files, or sealed adoption records) through our standard website contact or inquiry forms.
  • Secure Channels Required: Any transfer of confidential or chain-of-custody data must occur exclusively through our designated, secure, and encrypted professional channels after an official contract is executed.
  • DNA Data: Friar Research does not host, process, or store consumer or forensic DNA databases on this Website.
  • Privacy Policy Integration: Your use of this Website and any personal information you provide through web forms are also governed by our separate Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these terms by reference.

5.1 Data Ownership, Third-Party Consents, and Direct Email Communications.
You represent, warrant, and guarantee that any ancestral names, family tree data, historical text summaries, or documentation you submit through this Website’s inquiry fields—or transmit directly via email to any address listed on this Website—belong exclusively to you, or that you possess explicit, lawful authorization and necessary third-party consents to disclose such information to Friar Research. Any information sent to our listed electronic communication channels is fully governed by these Terms of Use.

6. No Warranties (“As Is”)

This Website and all content provided on it are delivered on an “As Is” and “As Available” basis. Friar Research makes no warranties of any kind, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, completeness, currency, security, or reliability of the information found here. Forensic and genealogical findings are subject to the availability and accuracy of public records, historical data, and third-party databases; therefore, past case examples on this website do not guarantee future investigative outcomes. We do not guarantee that the Website will operate uninterrupted, error-free, or free of viruses or malware. You use this Website entirely at your own risk.

6.1 Unwanted Lineage Findings Disclaimer. You acknowledge that investigative and forensic genealogical research relies on historical records and biological relationships that may reveal unexpected or emotionally distressing information. You access this Website’s educational materials and submit initial intake inquiries entirely at your own risk.

 7. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, Friar Research disclaims all liability for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, or special damages arising out of or connected to your access, use, or inability to use this Website. This includes, without limitation, reliance on website content, server interruptions, technical delays, or malware infections, even if we have been advised of the possibility of such damages.

  1. Indemnification
    You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Friar Research, its members, and agents from and against any and all third-party claims, liabilities, losses, damages, costs, or expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising out of or relating to your use of this Website, your violation of these Terms of Use, or your submission of any data, information, or materials through our web inquiry forms that violates any local, state, national, or international law applicable in your jurisdiction.

 9. External and Third-Party Links

Our Website may provide links to public archives, historical databases, government records, or third-party platforms for your convenience. Friar Research does not control, monitor, or endorse these external sites. We are not responsible for their content, accuracy, or privacy practices. Accessing linked sites is done strictly at your own risk.

 10. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

This Website is operated from our offices within the State of Connecticut, USA. By accessing this Website, you agree that any legal claims, disputes, or lawsuits arising out of or relating to your use of this Website will be governed strictly by the laws of the State of Connecticut, without regard to its conflict of law principles. You agree to submit to the exclusive personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in Connecticut to resolve any such disputes.  YOU AGREE THAT ANY LEGAL ACTION, CLAIM, COUNTERCLAIM, OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THESE TERMS OF USE, THE WEBSITE, OR YOUR DIGITAL SUBMISSION MUST BE FORMALLY FILED IN A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION WITHIN ONE (1) YEAR FOLLOWING THE DATE OF THE FACTS GIVING RISE TO THE CLAIM, OR SUCH CLAIM SHALL BE PERMANENTLY BARRED

 

  1. Class Action Waiver
    YOU AGREE THAT ANY PROCEEDING, DISPUTE, OR LAWSUIT ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO YOUR USE OF THIS WEBSITE SHALL BE CONDUCTED SOLELY ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS. YOU EXPLICITLY WAIVE ANY RIGHT TO INITIATE, JOIN, OR PARTICIPATE AS A PLAINTIFF, REPRESENTATIVE, OR CLASS MEMBER IN ANY PURPORTED CLASS ACTION, COLLECTIVE ACTION, MASS LITIGATION, OR REPRESENTATIVE PROCEEDING AGAINST FRIAR RESEARCH IN ANY FORUM. COMPLAINTS MAY NOT BE COMBINED, AGGREGATED, OR CONDUCTED ON BEHALF OF ANY ENTITY OR PERSON NOT A PARTY TO THESE TERMS.
  2. International Clients and Global Use
    Friar Research serves clients globally, including Canada, the United Kingdom, and the European Union. However, because our business operations, digital infrastructure, and investigative compliance frameworks are rooted in the United States, you agree that by accessing this Website or submitting an inquiry, all interactions and data processing foundations are governed strictly by the laws of the State of Connecticut, USA. International users are responsible for ensuring that their engagement with our digital services complies with their respective local laws, including cross-border data transfer limitations.
  3. Defense Costs for Unauthorized or Frivolous Claims.
    If any user, entity, or official initiates a legal proceeding, claim, or lawsuit against Friar Research arising out of or relating to the use of this Website, and such proceeding is subsequently dismissed, withdrawn by the plaintiff, or resolved in favor of Friar Research, or if the court determines the claim to be a nuisance or frivolous, the initiating party shall be contractually liable to reimburse Friar Research for one hundred percent (100%) of its reasonable attorneys’ fees, expert fees, and court costs incurred in defending the matter. Under no circumstances shall this provision be interpreted to grant a non-prevailing or withdrawing plaintiff a right to recover fees from Friar Research.
  4. Severability. If any provision of these Terms of Use is found to be unlawful, void, or for any reason unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, then that provision shall be deemed severable from these Terms and shall not affect the validity and enforceability of any remaining provisions.
  5. Entire Agreement. These Terms of Use, alongside our integrated Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and Friar Research regarding your access to and use of the Website, superseding any prior or contemporaneous communications or proposals
  6. Modifications

Friar Research reserves the right to modify this Website and these Terms of Use at any time without prior notice. Any updates will be posted to this page, and your continued use of the Website after updates are posted constitutes your binding acceptance of the revised terms.

Friar Genealogical Research, LLC.

Southington, Connecticut, USA | By Appointment Only

Call/Text: (203) 806-5226 Connecticut, USA Email: Hello@friarresearch.com