Initially, Ancestry collects basic information from you to create your account(s), including name, email address, and billing information together with a password that you provide us when you create an Ancestry account, and your phone number that we may collect to notify you of DNA test result status, or when you contact Ancestry Member Services by phone. We collect further data, such as family tree data, DNA data, health information or other information you provide when you opt in to additional services. We also collect some information about users who visit our websites using cookies and similar technologies. See the Privacy Statement and/or Cookie Policy for the particular website(s) or service(s) you are using for more details about the specific types of information Ancestry may collect and your choices related to that data.

Ancestry primarily uses information about you to provide, personalize, improve, update and expand and improve our services to you. For example, we use information about you to create your account, deliver our websites and services, help you build a family tree, and perform tests on your DNA. We may also use your information in genealogical or genomic research projects, to improve or develop new products and services, and for internal business purposes. We may also use personal information about you to verify your identity, communicate with you and to deliver advertisements, improve Ancestry information security; help you create, and providing insights about, your family trees based on data in Ancestry’s databases; issuing surveys and questionnaires to collect additional user information for use in the Services, marketing new products and offers from us or our business partners, conducting scientific, statistical, and historical research; detecting and protecting against error, fraud, or other criminal or malicious activity as well as facilitating product development and research initiatives. See our Privacy Statements (in Important Resources below) for more details.

Ancestry does not share your individual Personal Information (including your Genetic Information) with third-parties without your additional consent other than as described in our Privacy Statement. Sharing might occur with any information you add to your Ancestry profile which will be seen by other Ancestry members, or for example if you make your family tree public, share your DNA results, or consent to participate in our Research Project. To be clear, we do not share common identifying information linked to your genetic or health data with third parties unless we obtain your explicit consent or are required to do so. Otherwise, we share information as described in our Privacy Statements, such as with our affiliated companies, other users, our service providers, our advertising partners, and in other limited scenarios, such as in response to valid legal process or as appropriate to protect the rights, property, safety, confidentiality, or reputation of Ancestry, our affiliates, and our users.

You can read the Privacy Statement for the particular website(s) or service(s) you are using for more details about how Ancestry shares your data and your choices related to that sharing.

You can review, update, or delete most information about yourself through your account page on the relevant website (e.g., the “Your Account” page on Ancestry.com or the “Account Details” page on Newspapers.com and Fold3.com) usually located in the pull-down menu in the top right corner of the relevant website.

For AncestryDNA, you can review and update your information on your DNA settings page. If you agreed to the Informed Consent to participate in research, and then withdraw consent, we will stop using information about you for the Research Project and any future research. However, information cannot be withdrawn from studies in progress, completed studies, or published results.

If you have questions about how to review, update, or delete information, you should look in the “Manage Your privacy” pages below, or contact our Member Services team.

You can delete your Personal information from Ancestry by logging into your Account Settings.

If you agree to the AncestryDNA Informed Consent, your DNA and other data that you provide us through questionnaires or surveys may be used in research to further understand human history and improve human health.

Ancestry maintains a comprehensive information security program designed to protect our customers’ Personal Information using administrative, physical, and technical safeguards based on the sensitivity of the Personal Information collected. We use industry standard security practices to store your DNA sample, your DNA test results, and other health information you provide to us, and we limit access to authorized individuals who complete privacy training. We store your DNA test results and DNA sample without your name or other common identifying information such as your address. We do not share with third parties common identifying information linked to your genetic or health data except as legally required or with your explicit consent.

You own your DNA data and you can ask us to remove your data from our systems at any time. We do not keep copies unless you have consented to participate in research, in which case only those research projects that are ongoing or completed will contain your data.

How to access the account of someone who has passed away

Firstly, we’re sorry for your loss.

Please note that we don’t allow anyone access to a deceased member’s account without proper documentation showing that the requestor is legally entitled to take over the account.

In order to gain access to the account of a deceased member, collect as many of the documents listed below as possible, then contact us.

Documents Ancestry® will consider prior to providing access to deceased members’ accounts:

1. All legal documentation which confirms that you are the executor of the member’s estate, or if you are based outside the United States, the legal document required in your country of residence to confirm that you are legally entitled to act on behalf of the deceased member; or
2. Demonstrate that the executor of the estate has granted permission for you to assume control of the member’s account. If you are relying on a letter from the executor, you should demonstrate the executor’s right to write such letter, for example by providing a copy of the following:
   • A letter of appointment
   • A letter of administration
   • A letter of representation
   • A copy of the will
   • Letters testamentary; and/ or
3. A copy of the member’s death certificate; and/or
4. Proof of identification that verifies your authority to take over the relevant account; or
5. An email from the email address on file for the account or proof that you have access to the email account associated with the member’s Ancestry account (after the date of death)
   
   Please note that this is a non-exhaustive list and may vary depending on what the specific requirements are in your country.
   
   You will be asked to produce the above documents in order to prove that you are entitled to take over the account.
    

How to request the deletion of a deceased member's Ancestry® account

Once you delete an account, you will lose access to the account and to all related data on that account. This is a particularly important decision when considering the deletion of a deceased member’s account, as the work they put into the account will not be able to be retrieved after deletion. You may wish to download the family tree, raw DNA data, or other notes or files from the account before deleting the account. Please see how you can download the tree data here.

You can request that an account be deleted in two ways:

1. If you have successfully demonstrated that you are the legal owner of the account on the death of a member, you are granted access to the member’s account and you are able to delete the account yourself in the account settings. Please see the support article on how to delete the account.
   
   Please see How to access the account of someone who has passed away above in order to gain access to the account.
2. Alternatively contact us to request that an account be deleted.
   
   Please ensure that you have collected copies of these documents before contacting us, as it will ensure quick resolution of your query.

How to request content from the Ancestry® account of a deceased member

You are able to download the family trees, DNA Data, and other notes or files saved to the trees if you have access to the account or you are entitled to take over the account.

Once you have access to the account, please see how you can download the tree data here.

If you do not currently have access to the account, you may need to request that the account be transferred to your name. In order to gain access to the account, you will have to provide documentation to prove you are entitled to take over the account. Please see the How to access the account of someone who has passed away section above.

How to ask a question about a deceased member’s account on Ancestry®

If you have queries about a deceased member’s account, we are happy to assist you.

However, our customers’ privacy is important to us. We will not provide information or details about a member’s account unless you are entitled to access the account or to act on behalf of that individual.

In order to show that you are entitled to access the account, you will have to provide documentation to prove you are entitled to take over the account. Please see the How to access the account of someone who has passed away section above.