NDA & research agreement

These complete, customizable templates are a starting point for the parties’ agreement. Have them reviewed for the applicable law before use. This public draft is unsigned and grants no case access. Use your private case to save versions and sign.

Search Angel research services are free. An optional donation or thank-you gift is recommended to recognize the volunteer’s time, through the helper’s agreed Cash App, PayPal, Venmo or another payment service. Giving is entirely your choice and never a condition of receiving help or results. Agree on the recipient directly. Other services can be described in the optional arrangements. Keep payment notes free of family and DNA details.

Mandatory confidentiality and living-person protections take priority over inconsistent additional terms.

Complete NDA

MUTUAL CONFIDENTIALITY AND NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT
Template version: BTLGen-NDA-2026-10-06-v1
Policy version: BTLGen-Research-Help-2026-10-06-v1

Member: [To be agreed]
Contact: [To be agreed]
Independent helper: [To be agreed]
Contact: [To be agreed]
Private case reference: [Private case reference]

1. Purpose and relationship
The parties agree to protect information exchanged while discussing, carrying out or closing the genealogy research for this case. BTLGen is a place for people to connect and find genealogy help. Search Angels and research professionals who participate here are independent volunteers or service providers, not BTLGen employees. Any research arrangement is made directly between the member and the helper. Joining or receiving a BTLGen review badge does not create employment, authorize someone to act for BTLGen, or guarantee a result.

2. Confidential information
Protected information includes private case communications, research questions, reports, unpublished records, photographs, account details, living-person identities and contact details, family relationships, adoption and parentage information, DNA results and match information. Public availability of a fact does not authorize publication of a person's private case, sensitive combination of facts or genetic information.

3. Authorized use
Each party may use confidential information only for the agreed case and within the owner's permissions. No sale, publicity, training example, public-tree publication, external AI processing or additional data upload is authorized by this agreement. A separate, specific written permission is needed for any additional purpose.

4. Limited access and disclosure
Share only with people the member has expressly approved for this case, and only the information needed. A mentor or additional researcher must accept equivalent confidentiality obligations and obtain the member's approval before receiving information. Do not request another person's account password or impersonate them.

5. DNA and contact permissions
This NDA gives no permission to test another person, access DNA, upload a kit, share a match list or contact relatives. Any such action requires a separate case-specific written authorization from the appropriate person and must comply with provider rules and the full BTLGen policies. A person who declines contact must be respected.

6. Safeguards and incidents
Use authorized storage and access methods, limit copies, protect devices and credentials, and prevent unauthorized access. Tell the other party and BTLGen promptly about a suspected loss or disclosure; take reasonable steps to contain it without revealing further sensitive information.

7. Exceptions and required disclosures
The receiving party may substantiate that information was already lawfully known, independently developed or lawfully received without a confidentiality duty. If disclosure is required by applicable law, disclose only what is required and notify the other party when legally permitted. These exceptions do not authorize harassment, unauthorized DNA use or publication contrary to living-person protections.

8. Withdrawal, return and retention
Stop uses whose authorization has been withdrawn, end access and return or remove working copies as agreed. Keep only copies necessary for the agreed deliverables, applicable legal obligations or documenting the agreement, and protect retained copies. Previously released copies cannot always be recalled; neither party may promise otherwise.

9. Duration
Confidentiality survives completion, cancellation and departure from BTLGen. Protection of living-person and genetic information continues while the information remains confidential or subject to the person's privacy rights; a project end date does not authorize publication.

10. Rights and remedies
No ownership or public-use rights are transferred by this NDA. Each party retains any rights and remedies available under applicable law. Nothing here prohibits a lawful report to authorities or seeking legal advice under appropriate confidentiality.

11. Governing law and disputes
[To be agreed]
Parties should first seek a respectful resolution. Platform concerns may also be reported privately to BTLGen; that does not replace any legal rights or chosen dispute process.

12. Changes and signatures
Both parties must accept the same version. A change produces a new version requiring new signatures; old signed copies remain in the history. Case access is withheld until the current NDA and research agreement have both been signed by both parties.

Additional agreed terms (may not remove mandatory living-person, genetic-data or confidentiality protections):
None.
The mandatory protections in this agreement take priority over any inconsistent additional term.

By signing, each party confirms that they have read this complete agreement, intend to sign it and consent to an electronic record. They may download or print a copy. Signing records the account, typed name, date and exact document hash.

Complete research agreement

GENEALOGY RESEARCH AGREEMENT
Template version: BTLGen-Research-Agreement-2026-10-06-v1
Policy version: BTLGen-Research-Help-2026-10-06-v1

Member: [To be agreed]
Contact: [To be agreed]
Independent helper: [To be agreed]
Contact: [To be agreed]
Private case reference: [Private case reference]

1. Direct agreement between participants
BTLGen is a place for people to connect and find genealogy help. Search Angels and research professionals who participate here are independent volunteers or service providers, not BTLGen employees. Any research arrangement is made directly between the member and the helper. Joining or receiving a BTLGen review badge does not create employment, authorize someone to act for BTLGen, or guarantee a result.
The helper chooses whether to accept the work. BTLGen does not direct the helper's working hours, employ the helper, or promise a result. This agreement is between the identified parties; BTLGen is the connection platform, not a party to their research service agreement.

2. Agreed question and boundaries
[To be agreed]
Changes outside this scope need a new agreed version before work continues. Review existing research first and explain any reason for repeating it. No automatic merges, public-tree changes or publication are authorized.

3. Deliverables
[To be agreed]
Reports must identify sources actually consulted, explain findings and uncertainty, include relevant unsuccessful searches, and identify remaining questions. An unresolved answer can be a responsible result. No discovery, parentage identification, reunion, citizenship or lineage approval is guaranteed.

4. Schedule and updates
[To be agreed]
The helper controls their own research methods and availability while honoring the agreed deliverables and communication. Notify the member of material delays or limits.

5. Fees, expenses and payment
This is volunteer research. The research fee is $0; a fee for research may not be introduced under this volunteer agreement.
Agreed fees and budget: Volunteer research fee: $0
Authorized expenses and cap: No expenses without prior written approval.
No unapproved expense or budget increase is authorized. These terms do not initiate a payment or authorize BTLGen to collect one.

Optional appreciation: Search Angel research services are free. An optional donation or thank-you gift is recommended to recognize the volunteer’s time, through the helper’s agreed Cash App, PayPal, Venmo or another payment service. Giving is entirely your choice and never a condition of receiving help or results.
Any agreed thank-you arrangements: None; no gift is required.
Helper’s optional payment profile: No profile supplied.
Any gift is paid directly to the helper using the service’s rules; it does not buy extra access, priority or a promised outcome. Verify the recipient before sending. Use a private payment note with no names, DNA results or case details. BTLGen does not collect or process these gifts or issue charitable donation receipts.

6. Confidentiality and records
The current signed NDA applies throughout the case and after it ends. Use only information and records the member has authorized and has the right to provide. Preserve original records and GEDCOM files and give credit to other people's work. Do not publish or share case material merely because it concerns deceased ancestors.

7. DNA permissions
DNA access, uploads, testing and sharing are NOT authorized by this agreement.
Permissions must come from the appropriate test owner or authorized representative. A case permission is not authority over another person's genetic data. An unreviewed helper may not undertake DNA work through BTLGen.

8. Relative outreach
Contact with relatives or other third parties is NOT authorized by this agreement.
No impersonation, coercion or repeated contact after refusal. Testing consent is not contact consent.

9. Deliverable ownership and use
[To be agreed]
Original records remain subject to their owners' rights and source-provider rules. No public use, portfolio use or external AI processing of private case information is authorized without separate, specific permission.

10. Return, deletion and retention
[To be agreed]
Give the member their agreed research materials. Confidentiality applies to every retained copy. Retaining agreement records does not authorize new research or continued access to revoked case data.

11. Pause, cancellation and refunds
[To be agreed]
The member can pause the case and withdraw future access. Explain work completed and any agreed charges or refunds. Do not charge for invented work or withhold findings needed for the agreed purpose.

12. Standards, concerns and disputes
Both parties follow the full BTLGen ethics and research policies in force when signing. A review badge describes demonstrated scope, not guaranteed accuracy. Concerns can be reported privately through BTLGen.
Governing law and dispute forum: [To be agreed]

13. Additional agreed terms
None.
Mandatory confidentiality, living-person protections and consent requirements take priority over inconsistent additional terms. Volunteer terms may not require a thank-you gift or a minimum gift.

14. Entire version and electronic signatures
Both parties must sign the same saved document. Changes require a new version and new signatures; previous signed versions remain available. No research or access to private case materials begins through BTLGen until both parties have signed the current NDA AND this current research agreement.

By signing, each party confirms that they have read this complete agreement, intend to sign it and consent to an electronic record. They may download or print a copy. Signing records the account, typed name, date and exact document hash.