Family and Kinship Association Service Agreement

What a good one includes

• A detailed, step-by-step description of the specific services the vendor will provide, including exact deadlines and milestones for deliverables.
• Clear payment schedules, deposit refund policies, and a breakdown of any additional expenses the association is responsible for covering.
• A robust non-disclosure clause that strictly prohibits the vendor from sharing family trees, personal records, or private family stories without written permission.
• Explicit terms stating that all researched genealogies, event materials, and digital assets created during the project belong solely to the kinship association.
• Practical provisions detailing how either party can terminate the agreement and what happens to payments in the event of an unavoidable cancellation, like a natural disaster.
• A peaceful, community-minded process for resolving disagreements, such as mediation, before any party resorts to formal legal action.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Relying on standard business templates that fail to protect sensitive family data and private historical records from public disclosure.
• Leaving the scope of work vague, which often leads to costly misunderstandings about what the researcher or event planner is actually required to deliver.
• Forgetting to clarify who owns the intellectual property, resulting in genealogists or photographers retaining exclusive rights to your family’s records.
• Neglecting to outline clear terms for refunds or cancellations, leaving the association's treasury vulnerable if an event must be rescheduled.

Frequently asked questions