Terms and Conditions

1) Main information about the provider

Name: Sergej Petuchov
Company Registration Number (IČ): 033184427
Registered office: Prague, Czech Republic
Phone: +420 728 878 382
E-mail: sergeypetukhov@seznam.cz
Type of activity: provision of genealogy services / genealogy services

2) Definitions

A client/customer—a person who places an order for genealogical research services and agrees to pay for the information provided
The service consists of providing archival materials in electronic format and, if necessary, a non-certified translation thereof
“Information sources” (archives, registers, databases, museum collections, printed materials, etc.).

3) What exactly is the service and what it isn’t

What I do: archival/genealogical research, reconstruction of life stories/biographies, source reviews, translations, and interpretation of archived documents.
What I don’t do: legal services, legal assessment of claims, guaranteed “acquisition of citizenship,” guaranteed locating of individuals, etc.

4) How we work

Make a request via the form/email/phone.
Assessing input data and defining the search objective
Once the purpose of the search has been established, I submit a request to the relevant archives and cover the associated costs. Once the archival material has been collected and it becomes clear that it is of value, I assess the future effort required to process and translate this material into English, as well as the graphic design work, and compile a description of the material found without specific details. I then evaluate all the work carried out and propose a fee for the provision of this material and its processing. Once payment has been made, the material is provided.

5) Input data from the client and cooperation

To begin searching for archival information, we need the following details: first name, last name, father’s name, date of birth, and place of birth of the person whose background or personal history we are researching. If known, please also provide their place of work or service. You should also specify exactly what you wish to find out—whether you want to trace their ancestors or learn more about this person’s life story. I also need to know if you would like the documents that are found to be transcribed and translated into English. When searching for information prior to the 1930s, birth certificates are not usually required. Searching for more recent documents typically requires the submission of birth certificates.
The client is responsible for the accuracy and completeness of the information provided.
The client will provide documentation proving the family relationship if the archive requires it (otherwise, the work may be limited to publicly available sources).
The client declares that they are authorized to provide you with the data and that they will use it lawfully.

6) Ethical and Legal Limits on Searches

I respect archive rules, access policies, licensing terms, and legal restrictions (living individuals, sensitive data).
I reserve the right to refuse an assignment (e.g., if it is clearly intended for harassment, doxxing, extortion, or the violation of third-party rights).

7) Scope of work, budget and changes to the terms of reference

The scope of the work is clearly defined (what we are looking for, where, to what depth).
Recommended: limit “we will not exceed the budget by more than X% / X USD/EUR without further approval”.

8) Deadlines and Schedule of Performance

It’s never clear how long it will take to process a request. Responses from archives usually take months. Some replies from archives (such as the most popular military history ones) can take up to half a year to arrive. On top of that, it usually takes me some time to process and organize the information. However, I have no problem answering a customer’s inquiry about the status of their order.

9) Deliverables and Delivery Format

Standard output – is always customized.
This typically consists of a research report containing translations of the documents found, to the extent necessary to obtain the required information (PDF),
A list of sources used and citations (if applicable),
Copies of the documents obtained as scans (PDF/JPG)
For genealogy, it is possible to order a simple family tree diagram.
Output language (EN/CZ/RU) as offered.
Delivery via email / secure link.

10) Price and Third-Party Costs

The price is determined on a case-by-case basis (and the “starting from” prices in the price list are approximate) and will always be set after the information has been located but before it is delivered.
Pricing includes:
o fee for work,
o archival fees (copies, verification, access),
o travel expenses, postage/courier, translations, etc.

11) Payment Terms

Invoices are due within one month,
Currency (USD/EUR/CZK); bank fees are the client’s responsibility.
Work will be suspended in the event of late payment.
If an invoice remains unpaid for more than six months, the information will be deleted from my computer.
Payment is non-refundable!

12) “No guarantee of results”

The result is a professionally conducted search; we do not guarantee that a specific document will be found.
Even a negative result is a deliverable: a report detailing what was checked, where, and what the conclusion was.

13) Complaints, Corrections, and Revisions

Deadline for comments after delivery (30 days).
What constitutes a free correction: typos, obvious transcription errors, discrepancies with sources.
What constitutes a paid revision: expanding the scope, additional sources, “rewrite the entire text,” new individuals, etc.

14) Refunds

In the EU, consumers generally have the right to withdraw from distance contracts within 14 days; these rules are governed by the Consumer Rights Directive.
For custom services, it is essential to address the following:
If the client expressly requests that performance begin before the 14-day period expires and subsequently withdraws, they will pay a proportionate amount for the performance already provided (and after full performance, the right of withdrawal may lapse—this must be addressed by including consent/acknowledgment in the order).
Cancellation by the client outside the withdrawal period:
payment for proven worked time,
third-party costs are non-refundable,
a cancellation fee may be set (exercise caution with consumers—formulate it fairly).

15) Withdrawal from the Contract and Cancellation

Since the scope of the work is always unknown, I proceed as follows: first, I locate the information in the archives myself—using my own funds to do so. Once the information is found, I compile a detailed description of the materials, determine their value and the cost of the future translation, and offer the material to the client at a price I set myself. If the client agrees to the price, they receive the information and a free translation of it in electronic form after payment. If the amount is too high, the customer may refuse it, in which case the order is cancelled.

16) Copyright and Licenses for Deliverable

Outputs (reports, compilations, structure) – licensed to the client for personal/family use.
Archival copies may be subject to the rules of the specific institution (restrictions on publication).
The materials provided are subject to a prohibition on the “resale” of outputs and their use as a public database without permission.

17) Liability and its Limitations

I am not responsible for decisions made by third parties (archives, government agencies).

18) Governing Law and Jurisdiction

The laws of the Czech Republic shall govern the performance of the contract and any disputes arising from searches in the archives of the Czech Republic.
The laws of Russia and Ukraine shall govern any disputes arising from searches in the archives of those countries.
However, this does not affect the mandatory consumer rights under local regulations.