Privacy Policy

ANCHOR Sovereign, LLC ("ANCHOR," "we," "us," or "our") operates the ANCHOR Genealogy research service and Research Portal at portal.anchorgenealogy.com. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your information when you use our services.

By using our website or services, you agree to the practices described in this policy.

1. Information We Collect

Information you provide directly

When you contact us, sign up for the portal, or engage our research services, we may collect:

• Your name and email address
• Account login credentials
• Payment information (processed by our payment processor — we do not store your card number)
• Family history information you submit, including names, dates, relationships, photos, and documents
• DNA data files you upload or share with us for research purposes
• Communications you send us by email or through the portal

Information collected automatically

When you visit our website or use the portal, we may collect:

• IP address and general location
• Browser type and operating system
• Pages visited and time spent on our site
• Referring URLs

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Provide and improve our genealogy research services
• Operate and maintain the ANCHOR Research Portal
• Process payments and maintain billing records
• Communicate with you about your research project, account, and our services
• Respond to your inquiries and support requests
• Comply with legal obligations

We do not use your family history data or DNA information for any purpose other than conducting the research you've hired us to perform.

3. DNA and Sensitive Genealogical Data

We understand that DNA data and family history information — particularly information about enslaved ancestors, non-paternity events, or unknown parentage — is among the most sensitive personal information that exists.

We treat this data with the highest level of care:

• DNA files you provide are used solely for your research project.
• We do not share, sell, or license your DNA data to any third party.
• We do not upload your DNA data to any third-party DNA testing platform without your explicit written consent.
• You retain full ownership of your family history data. We are custodians of that data on your behalf.

4. Information Sharing

We do not sell your personal information. We do not share your personal information with third parties except:

• Service providers: We use trusted third-party services for payment processing, email delivery, and website hosting. These providers are contractually bound to protect your data and may not use it for their own purposes.
• Legal requirements: We may disclose your information if required to do so by law, subpoena, or court order.
• Business transfers: If ANCHOR Sovereign, LLC is acquired or merged, your data may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you in advance and give you the opportunity to delete your data before any transfer occurs.
• With your consent: We will share information in any other circumstances only with your explicit consent.

5. Data Storage and Security

Your data is stored on servers in the United States. We implement industry-standard security measures including:

• Encrypted data transmission (TLS/HTTPS) on all web connections
• Encrypted password storage (passwords are hashed and never stored in plaintext)
• Access controls limiting who on our team can access client data
• Regular security reviews of our infrastructure

No method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. While we do our best to protect your data, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

6. Data Retention

We retain your account and family history data for as long as your portal account is active. If you request deletion of your account, we will delete or anonymize your personal data within 30 days, except where we are required to retain it for legal or business purposes (such as billing records).

Research deliverables we've produced on your behalf are retained in our records for 7 years for business continuity purposes, then permanently deleted.

7. Your Rights

You have the right to:

• Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
• Correction: Request that we correct inaccurate information
• Deletion: Request that we delete your personal data (subject to our retention obligations)
• Portability: Request your family history data in a portable format
• Objection: Object to specific uses of your data

To exercise any of these rights, email us at info@anchorgenealogy.com. We will respond within 30 days.

8. Cookies

Our website uses session cookies to maintain your login state in the Research Portal. We do not use third-party advertising cookies or tracking pixels. You can disable cookies in your browser settings, but doing so may prevent you from staying logged into the portal.

9. Children's Privacy

Our services are not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe we have inadvertently collected information from a child under 13, please contact us immediately and we will delete it.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make material changes, we will notify you by email (if you have an account) and update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. Your continued use of our services after the effective date constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

11. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

ANCHOR Sovereign, LLC
info@anchorgenealogy.com