Privacy & ownership
Know where your family’s history stands.
A family archive needs clear answers about access, ownership and what happens next. Here is how Our Story handles the material you entrust to it.
Who can see our archive?
Family content is available to invited members according to their role and the archive’s privacy settings. Owners manage membership. Viewers explore; editors can also add and change shared material.
Living-person privacy settings can limit what members see. Before adding a recording or personal information about someone, agree with them on what should be shared. The public Rossi sample is fictional.
Who owns our stories and photos?
You retain the rights you have in the material you contribute. Adding it does not transfer ownership to Our Story. Only upload material you have the right to share, and respect the privacy of people included in it.
Family ownership and membership are separate from paying for a plan. A Professional plan can sponsor client archives. The family’s owners decide who has access.
Does AI use our family material?
When you request an available AI tool, the material needed for that task is sent to the configured AI service. AI features depend on availability and your archive’s allowance. Archive processing also respects the item’s AI-use setting.
Treat transcriptions, extracted details and generated writing as material to check. A suggested date or relationship is not proof. Keep original documents and recordings as the reference, and review names and personal claims carefully.
Can we take our archive with us?
Owners can export family tree data as GEDCOM and request a full archive ZIP that includes uploaded originals. GEDCOM has transfer limits and does not include every kind of archive material. Download and keep the ZIP as well.
Private ZIP downloads expire after seven days. Keep your own backup in a separate place and check that the files you need open correctly.
Read about GEDCOM transfer limits →What if our subscription ends?
Cancellation takes effect at the end of the paid period. An expired trial or lapsed subscription becomes read-only; reading, owner export, billing and custody controls remain available. Nonrenewal does not start deletion.
Deliberately scheduling an archive for deletion is different: it starts a 30-day recovery period. Account deletion and archive custody have their own rules, explained in the Privacy Notice.
Who operates Our Story?
GBEC, LLC operates Our Story. Contact contact@our-story.co for support, privacy or custody questions.
Service providers handle the information needed to host, secure and operate the service. This page is a plain-language overview; the Privacy Notice and Terms describe the full policies and subscription conditions.
Start with a memory you know.
30 days to try Our Story. No card required. Or explore the fictional Rossi family first.
See plans and limits