Simple terms, in plain language.
These terms describe the agreement between your family and DearestEllie. We keep them short and honest — the same principles that shape the product shape the terms.
What DearestEllie is
A private place for families to gather and keep the memory of a life. Basic archives are free to begin and free to keep. It is a memory commons, not an advertising business — no ads, and we never sell your family's data.
Your content is yours
You keep ownership of everything you add. You grant us only the permission needed to store it, show it to the people you choose, and generate the exports and keepsakes you ask for. You can export all of it, anytime, in an open format.
The Archive Steward has final say
Each archive has a steward who controls what is shared and with whom. Contributions wait for review unless the steward decides otherwise. A child's contributions always wait for a named guardian's approval.
Acceptable use
Use DearestEllie to remember and honour real people, with the consent of those involved where it matters. Don't upload content you have no right to share, harass others, or use an archive to harm someone. We may remove content or access that breaks this trust.
Contributions, keepsakes, and sustainability
Contributions and keepsake purchases are voluntary and sustain the commons — they never gate remembrance. Basic archives, privacy, contributors, and full export are always free. No archive disappears because a family cannot pay.
Deletion and leaving
You can delete an archive or your account at any time. Export first — we always offer it — because deletion is permanent. Deleting your account is only blocked while you solely steward an archive, so a family never loses their archive when you go.
No warranty; changes
We work hard to keep your archive safe and available, but the service is provided as-is. We'll give reasonable notice of material changes to these terms, and our governance commitments mean donors cannot buy control over the mission.