Terms of Service

1. Definitions

• "Member" means any individual with an Adopted Adults account.
• "Adoption" means a listing offering a free, hosted stay, including a place to stay and a host who is present.
• "Host" (or "adopter") means a Member offering an Adoption. "Traveler" (or "adoptee") means a Member requesting or staying in an Adoption.
• "Stay" means a hosted visit arranged between Members through the Service.
• "Content" means anything a Member submits or posts, including profiles, photos, videos, listings, messages, and reviews.
• "Verification" means the identity-verification process described in Section 4.

2. Eligibility

• You must be 18 years of age or older and able to form a legally binding contract.
• You must register with accurate, current information and a real identity that you will verify.
• One account per person. You may not maintain multiple accounts, share an account, or create an account on behalf of anyone else.
• You must not be barred from using the Service under the laws of your jurisdiction, and you must not have been previously removed from the Service.
• The Service is intended for personal, non-commercial use only.

3. What Adopted Adults Is, and Is Not

Adopted Adults is a platform that connects Members who offer free, hosted stays with Members who wish to visit. Stays are arranged and carried out directly between Members.

We are not a party to any Stay or agreement between Members. We are not a landlord, tenant, property manager, real-estate broker, travel agency, tour operator, or insurer. We do not own, operate, manage, inspect, control, or supervise any Member's home, and we do not supervise, attend, or participate in any Stay. We provide the platform only. Members are solely responsible for their own Content, listings, conduct, and Stays, and for compliance with all laws that apply to them, including any local laws, leases, HOA or building rules, tax obligations, and short-term-stay or guest regulations.

4. Accounts and Identity Verification

• You are responsible for your account and for keeping your login credentials secure. You are responsible for all activity under your account. Notify us immediately of any unauthorized use.
• Identity verification is required. Before you can request, message, confirm, or host, you must complete identity verification, which is performed by a third-party provider and currently involves a government-ID scan, a liveness selfie, and a face match.
• We store only the result of verification (a pass or fail and a verified badge). We do not store your raw identity document or selfie; those are handled by the verification provider under its own terms and our [Privacy Policy].
• Verification confirms identity only. We do not perform criminal background checks. Verification does not guarantee that any Member is safe, trustworthy, law-abiding, or who they claim to be, and it is not an endorsement of any Member. See Sections 11 and 12.
• We may re-verify, suspend, or refuse verification to protect the community. A Member who has been removed may not re-verify or rejoin (see Section 10).

5. The Reciprocity Model (Everyone Hosts)

Adopted Adults is a hosting community, not a free-lodging directory. To request or confirm a Stay as a Traveler, you must maintain at least one active Adoption of your own. You agree to participate genuinely as a host, and not to use the Service solely to travel. We may limit or pause your ability to travel if you do not maintain a genuine, active Adoption.

6. Adoptions, Requests, and Stays

• The entire Stay is free. We never charge for Adoptions, we take no commission, and no money is collected, processed, or held through the Service. Any exchange of money, deposits, fees, or other consideration between Members in connection with a Stay is prohibited and is outside the Service and at the Members' own risk. The Service is not a venue for rentals, sublets, or paid lodging of any kind.
• A request becomes a confirmed Stay only after both Members are verified, complete a video call through the Service, and each confirms the Stay. A confirmation reflects the Members' mutual intent; it is not a guarantee by us.
• Either Member may cancel before or after confirmation. We are not responsible for any cost, loss, travel expense, or inconvenience resulting from a cancellation, a no-show, a change of plans, or a Stay that does not occur as expected.
• Personal details such as full name and exact address are shared with the other Member only after a Stay is confirmed.
• Hosts are responsible for the accuracy of their listings and for the condition, safety, and legality of offering their home. Travelers are responsible for respecting the home, the host, the house rules, and the agreed itinerary and dates.

7. Member Conduct and Community Standards

There is zero tolerance for objectionable content and abusive users. By using the Service you agree not to post or share content that is unlawful, obscene, pornographic, hateful, harassing, threatening, defamatory, or otherwise objectionable, and not to harass, abuse, or harm any other Member. You can report content or Members and block anyone directly in the app; we review reports and remove objectionable Content and the Members responsible, typically within 24 hours.

You agree to:

• Treat every Member with respect. No harassment, threats, stalking, hate speech, discrimination, or violence.
• Provide accurate listings, profiles, and honest reviews.
• Honor the commitments you make and communicate promptly and in good faith.
• Comply with all applicable laws and with each host's house rules.
• Use the Service only to arrange and carry out genuine, hosted, non-commercial Stays.

You agree not to:

• Misrepresent your identity, age, location, or any material fact.
• Discriminate against any Member on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, or any other protected characteristic.
• Use the Service for any commercial purpose, solicitation, advertising, or spam.
• Endanger or exploit any person, especially a minor.

8. Communication Rules

• Keep communication on the Service until a Stay is confirmed. Sharing phone numbers, email addresses, external links, or other off-platform contact details before confirmation is restricted, and attempting to move off-platform to circumvent the Service's rules or safety features is prohibited.
• On-platform communication protects Members and preserves a record in case of a dispute or safety incident.
• No solicitation, spam, or commercial use of another Member's information.

9. Content and License

• You retain ownership of the Content you submit. You are solely responsible for your Content and for having all rights necessary to post it.
• You grant Adopted Adults a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, sublicensable, and transferable license to host, store, reproduce, modify (for formatting and display), publish, publicly display, and distribute your Content for the purposes of operating, improving, and promoting the Service. This license ends when you delete the Content or your account, except for Content others have shared, Content retained for legitimate business or legal purposes, and copies kept in routine backups for a reasonable period.
• Your Content must not be illegal, infringing, deceptive, hateful, sexually exploitative, or otherwise harmful, and must not violate anyone's privacy, publicity, or intellectual-property rights.
• We may screen, moderate, refuse, remove, or restrict Content at our discretion, including automated screening of uploaded images and videos before they become visible. We are not obligated to monitor Content, and we are not responsible for Content posted by Members.
• Copyright (DMCA). If you believe Content infringes your copyright, send a notice to hello@adoptedadults.com with the information required by [17 U.S.C. 512(c)(3)]. We respond to valid notices and may remove infringing Content and terminate repeat infringers.

10. Reviews

After a completed Stay, both Members may review each other through a double-blind system: neither review is published until both are submitted or the review window closes. Reviews must reflect genuine, firsthand experiences. We may remove reviews that violate these Terms, are fraudulent, or are submitted to manipulate the system.

11. Safety, Reporting, and Enforcement

• You can report a Member, listing, review, or message, and block any Member, at any time. During an active Stay, one-tap safety tools provide quick access to reporting, blocking, and local emergency information.
• We may investigate reports, remove Content, and warn, suspend, restrict, or terminate any account, with or without notice, to protect the community.
• Safety violations result in immediate removal (a one-strike policy). We use identity-based measures to prevent removed or banned Members from re-registering: a removed identity cannot re-verify and therefore cannot confirm a Stay.
• We may also remove Members for fake, low-effort, or misleading listings, a pattern of cancellations or no-shows, abuse of the Service, or prolonged inactivity.
• A fast human response to safety reports is provided on a best-efforts basis and is not a guarantee of any particular response time or outcome.

12. Assumption of Risk; No Guarantee

Meeting and staying with people you do not previously know, in private homes, carries inherent risks, including the risk of personal injury, illness, emotional harm, property damage, theft, or loss. You participate at your own risk. We do not screen Members beyond identity verification, we do not conduct background checks, and we do not guarantee the conduct, safety, identity, or honesty of any Member or the condition, safety, or legality of any home or Stay. You are responsible for exercising your own judgment, completing the video call, reading reviews, and using the safety tools. You acknowledge and agree to the separate [Liability Waiver]. In an emergency, contact your local emergency services first.

13. Privacy

Your use of the Service is subject to our [Privacy Policy], which explains what we collect and how we use it. By using the Service, you consent to those practices.

14. Intellectual Property

The Service, including its software, design, text, graphics, hand-drawn illustrations, logos, and the "Adopted Adults" name and marks, is owned by us or our licensors and is protected by intellectual-property laws. We grant you a limited, revocable, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to use the Service for its intended personal, non-commercial purpose. You may not copy, modify, distribute, sell, reverse engineer, scrape, or create derivative works from the Service except as expressly permitted.

15. Third-Party Services

The Service relies on third-party providers (for example, identity verification, video calling, maps, email delivery, hosting, and error monitoring). Your use of features powered by a third party may be subject to that provider's terms and privacy practices. We are not responsible for third-party services, and their inclusion is not an endorsement.

16. Beta Service

The Service is currently offered as a beta and is provided for evaluation. It may contain errors, may change, and may be modified, suspended, or discontinued in whole or in part at any time without liability. Features, rules, and limits may change as the Service evolves. Any feedback you provide is given voluntarily, and you grant us a perpetual, irrevocable, royalty-free license to use it without obligation to you.

17. Disclaimers

THE SERVICE AND ALL CONTENT ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE," WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED, OR STATUTORY. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, WE DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, INCLUDING IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. WE DO NOT WARRANT THAT THE SERVICE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, SECURE, OR ERROR-FREE, THAT LISTINGS OR MEMBER INFORMATION ARE ACCURATE, OR THAT ANY STAY WILL MEET YOUR EXPECTATIONS. [Some jurisdictions do not allow certain disclaimers, so some of the above may not apply to you.]

18. Dispute Resolution; Arbitration; Class Action Waiver

This section limits how you can bring claims against us. Please read it carefully.

• Informal resolution first. Before filing any claim, you agree to contact us at hello@adoptedadults.com and attempt to resolve the dispute informally for at least [30] days.
• Binding arbitration. Except for the exceptions below, any dispute arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Service will be resolved by binding individual arbitration administered by [arbitration provider, e.g., the American Arbitration Association] under its applicable rules, rather than in court. Judgment on the award may be entered in any court with jurisdiction.
• Exceptions. Either party may bring an individual claim in small-claims court, and either party may seek injunctive relief for intellectual-property or unauthorized-use claims.
• Class action waiver. YOU AND ADOPTED ADULTS AGREE THAT EACH MAY BRING CLAIMS ONLY IN AN INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, AND NOT AS A PLAINTIFF OR CLASS MEMBER IN ANY CLASS, COLLECTIVE, OR REPRESENTATIVE PROCEEDING. THE ARBITRATOR MAY NOT CONSOLIDATE CLAIMS.
• Jury trial waiver. To the extent a claim proceeds in court, you and Adopted Adults waive any right to a jury trial.
• 30-day opt-out. You may opt out of this arbitration agreement by sending written notice to hello@adoptedadults.com within 30 days of first accepting these Terms. Opting out does not affect any other part of these Terms.

19. Limitation of Liability

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ADOPTED ADULTS AND ITS OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, AND AGENTS WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR FOR ANY LOSS OF PROFITS, DATA, GOODWILL, OR FOR PERSONAL INJURY, PROPERTY DAMAGE, OR ANY LOSS ARISING FROM YOUR INTERACTIONS OR STAYS WITH OTHER MEMBERS, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY. OUR TOTAL AGGREGATE LIABILITY FOR ALL CLAIMS RELATING TO THE SERVICE WILL NOT EXCEED [THE GREATER OF (A) THE AMOUNT YOU PAID US IN THE 12 MONTHS BEFORE THE CLAIM, WHICH FOR A FREE SERVICE MAY BE USD $0, OR (B) USD $100]. [Some jurisdictions do not allow certain limitations, so some of the above may not apply to you.]

20. Release Between Members

Because Stays are arranged and carried out directly between Members, you release Adopted Adults from any claims, demands, and damages arising out of or connected to any dispute, interaction, or Stay between you and another Member. [If you are a California resident, you waive California Civil Code Section 1542, which says: "A general release does not extend to claims that the creditor or releasing party does not know or suspect to exist in his or her favor at the time of executing the release..."]

21. Indemnification

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Adopted Adults and its officers, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising out of your use of the Service, your Content, your Stays, your interactions with other Members, or your violation of these Terms or any law or third-party right.

22. Termination

You may stop using the Service and delete your account at any time. We may suspend or terminate your access at any time, with or without notice, for any violation of these Terms or to protect the community. Sections that by their nature should survive termination will survive, including Sections 9 (license), 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, and 23.

23. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. If we make material changes, we will provide reasonable notice (for example, by email or in the app). Changes are effective when posted unless stated otherwise, and your continued use of the Service after changes take effect means you accept the updated Terms.

24. Electronic Communications and Marketing

By using the Service, you consent to receive communications from us electronically, including service and transactional emails. With your consent where required, we may also send product updates and marketing messages; you can opt out of marketing at any time through your settings or the unsubscribe link, but you may still receive non-marketing, service-related messages.

25. Apple App Store Additional Terms

These terms apply if you download the app from the Apple App Store:

• These Terms are between you and Adopted Adults only, not with Apple. Apple is not responsible for the Service or its content.
• Apple has no obligation to provide maintenance or support for the app.
• To the extent of any warranty that cannot be disclaimed, Apple may refund the purchase price (if any); otherwise Apple has no warranty obligation.
• Apple is not responsible for product liability, legal or regulatory compliance, or third-party intellectual-property claims relating to the app.
• You represent that you are not located in an embargoed country and are not on any U.S. Government restricted-parties list.
• Apple and its subsidiaries are third-party beneficiaries of these Terms and may enforce them against you.

26. Google Play Additional Terms

If you download the app from Google Play, you agree to the then-current Google Play Terms of Service, and to the extent those terms conflict with these Terms regarding your use of the app obtained through Google Play, the Google Play terms govern that limited issue.

27. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of [STATE / COUNTRY, e.g., the State of Wisconsin, USA], without regard to conflict-of-laws rules, except that the arbitration agreement in Section 18 is governed by the [Federal Arbitration Act]. Subject to Section 18, the exclusive venue for any permitted court action is the state or federal courts located in [COUNTY, STATE].

28. Miscellaneous

• Entire agreement. These Terms, together with the [Privacy Policy] and [Liability Waiver], are the entire agreement between you and Adopted Adults regarding the Service.
• Severability. If any provision is found unenforceable, the rest remains in effect.
• No waiver. Our failure to enforce a provision is not a waiver of it.
• Assignment. You may not assign these Terms; we may assign them to an affiliate or in connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets.
• Force majeure. We are not liable for failures or delays caused by events beyond our reasonable control.
• Headings. Headings are for convenience only and do not affect interpretation.

29. Contact

Questions about these Terms: hello@adoptedadults.com.