These terms apply to research, document retrieval and related services ordered from Our Ancestors through ourancestors.eu. Please read them before placing an order. Questions: info@ourancestors.eu.
1. Who we are
Our Ancestors is a brand of Nasi Przodkowie - Marcin Polak, a genealogical research company registered in Poland at Sienna 9, 70-542 Szczecin, EU VAT ID PL5252912507. References to “we”, “us” and “Our Ancestors” mean this company.
2. Services
We provide genealogical research, archive queries, retrieval of civil and church records and certificates, translation arrangements and the compilation of documents for citizenship-by-descent and heritage applications. We provide research and documentary evidence. We do not provide legal advice, representation before authorities or guarantees about the outcome of any application.
3. Assessment, quote and order
The initial feasibility assessment is free and without obligation. Before any paid work we send a written research plan describing the scope, the sources to be consulted, the price or budget cap, the expected deliverables and an estimated timeline. A contract is formed when you accept that plan in writing (e-mail is sufficient) and, where requested, pay the agreed deposit. Changes to the scope are agreed separately.
4. Prices and payment
Prices are quoted in EUR unless stated otherwise and include VAT where applicable. Research projects are invoiced per agreed stage; fixed-price services (single-record searches, certificate orders, translations) are paid when ordered. Fees charged by archives, registry offices, translators and courier services are passed on at cost and listed in the quote where foreseeable. Payment is by bank transfer or card. Invoices are issued by Nasi Przodkowie - Marcin Polak.
5. Nature of research and no guarantee of results
Research depends on the survival of records and on the access policies and response times of the institutions that hold them. We undertake to search the agreed sources diligently and to document what was and was not found. We cannot guarantee that a particular record, person or answer will be found, and the fee is due for the research performed regardless of the result. Where it becomes clear early that further work is unlikely to succeed, we tell you and stop.
6. Your obligations
You confirm that the information you provide is accurate to the best of your knowledge and that you are entitled to request the records concerned. Some institutions release records only to direct descendants or with proof of kinship or a power of attorney; we will tell you when that applies.
7. Deliverables and intellectual property
You receive the agreed report, document copies, translations and family tree in digital form (PDF and image files), and in print if agreed. Copies of archival documents remain subject to the rules of the issuing institution. The report and translations are our work; you may use them freely for personal, family and official purposes but may not resell or publish them commercially without our consent.
8. Timelines
Timelines are estimates. Delays caused by archives, registry offices, postal services or public authorities are outside our control. We keep you informed and adjust the plan where possible.
9. Cancellation and withdrawal
You may cancel a research project at any time in writing. Work completed up to that point, including third-party fees already incurred, is invoiced; any unused deposit is refunded. Consumers in the EU have a 14-day right of withdrawal from distance contracts; by asking us to begin work within that period you agree that the right of withdrawal lapses once the service has been fully performed, and that you owe a proportionate fee for work performed before withdrawal. Certificate orders already submitted to an authority cannot be cancelled.
10. Liability
Our liability is limited to the fee paid for the service concerned, except for liability that cannot be limited by law. We are not liable for decisions of archives, registry offices, consulates or courts, nor for the accuracy of historical records themselves.
11. Data protection
Personal data is processed as described in our privacy policy.
12. Complaints and governing law
Complaints can be sent to info@ourancestors.eu; we respond within 14 days. These terms are governed by Polish law. Consumers also enjoy the mandatory protections of the law of their country of residence. The EU online dispute resolution platform closed on 20 July 2025. Information about consumer redress and dispute resolution bodies is available through the European Commission’s consumer redress portal.
13. Changes
We may update these terms; the version in force when you accept a research plan applies to that order. Last updated: October 2026.