Privacy Policy

1. Introduction & Overview

Welcome to Find Cemetery ("we," "our," or "the Registry"). We operate a worldwide historical cemetery directory and genealogy memorial registry, cataloging thousands of verified burial grounds, churchyards, and ancestral resting places across international regions.

We are committed to maintaining the trust of our visitors, community volunteers, and genealogists. We adhere strictly to the General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (GDPR) and the Irish Data Protection Act 2018. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, store, and process information when you use our website.

2. The Information We Collect

We believe in data minimization. We only collect the minimal information necessary to deliver a reliable, accessible public resource:

• Direct Inquiries: When you submit a message via our Contact form or volunteer registry, we collect your name, email address, and the content of your inquiry.
• Saved Cemeteries (Local Storage): When you bookmark or "save" a cemetery for future reference, this data is saved exclusively on your local device browser (localStorage). We do not store your personal reading list on external tracking servers.
• Technical Logs: Like most web services, our servers automatically log standard network metadata (such as IP address, browser type, referring URL, and page timestamps) to diagnose security issues and monitor server performance.

3. Historical Cemetery & Memorial Records

The core mission of Find Cemetery is the preservation of historic public record information:

• Cemetery names, parish locations, GPS coordinates, and historical descriptions are compiled from open public registries, local county council archives, historic maps, and field surveys.
• Inscriptions on historic headstones and public cemetery monuments are transcribed as part of open historical and genealogical heritage.
• Under GDPR, personal data relating to deceased individuals does not fall within the scope of data protection rights. However, we treat all memorial sites with deep dignity. If family members have sensitive questions regarding a modern record, please contact our registry team for prompt assistance.

4. Cookies & Web Storage

Our website is designed to be privacy-first:

We do not employ invasive third-party tracking cookies or advertising networks. We use functional browser storage solely to remember your user preferences (such as your saved cemeteries list and interactive map filters).

5. Mapping & Third-Party Providers

To provide precise directions and interactive burial ground maps, our directory utilizes Leaflet and OpenStreetMap tile servers. When rendering maps, your browser communicates directly with map tile providers in accordance with their privacy standards.

6. Your Rights Under GDPR

If you are located within the European Economic Area (EEA), you possess comprehensive data subject rights:

• Right of Access: Request a copy of any personal information we hold about you.
• Right of Rectification: Request correction of any inaccurate or incomplete personal data.
• Right to Erasure ("Right to be Forgotten"): Request deletion of your personal contact records.
• Right to Object: Object to processing carried out on the basis of legitimate interest.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at our dedicated privacy mailbox. We respond to all verified inquiries within 30 days without charge.

7. Contact Information

If you have questions, feedback, or concerns regarding this Privacy Policy or how your data is handled, please reach out to our team: