Terms & Conditions

Welcome to The Becoming. Please read these Terms and Conditions ("Terms", "Terms & Conditions") carefully before using www.thebecoming.org or participating in any programs, services, or toolkits provided by The Becoming ("us", "we", or "our").

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By accessing or using our website, services, guides, translation assistance, or administrative advocacy resources, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you disagree with any part of the terms, you may not access our website or services.

The Becoming is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering Korean adoptees by providing educational tutorials, NCRC (National Center for the Rights of the Child) navigation guides, paperwork support, translation assistance, and administrative advocacy resources.

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In accordance with our core value of Radical Agency, our services and materials are designed to arm individuals with information and self-advocacy tools so they may navigate their own search process. The Becoming does not conduct private investigations, operate as a private detective agency, or act as a licensed legal representative.

All content provided on www.thebecoming.org—including but not limited to guides, agency overviews, paperwork templates, translation assistance, and accountability toolkits—is for informational, educational, and self-help advocacy purposes only.

• No Professional Advice: Information provided by The Becoming does not constitute official legal, psychological, or certified professional search/investigative advice.

• No Guarantee of Results: While we provide tactical knowledge and tools to dismantle bureaucratic barriers, The Becoming cannot guarantee specific outcomes, record discoveries, or successful reunions with biological family members.

   

• Third-Party Systems: The search process involves independent government entities (e.g., NCRC) and private adoption agencies (e.g., Holt, SWS, KSS) whose policies, response timelines, and legal restrictions are outside of our control.

As part of our mission, The Becoming offers targeted translation assistance for essential documentation, record requests, and outreach correspondence.

• Translation assistance is provided in good faith for informational and communication facilitation purposes, and is available at first come-first served.

• The Becoming makes every reasonable effort to ensure linguistic accuracy; however, we are not a certified court-sworn legal translation entity unless explicitly stated. We are not liable for misunderstandings or administrative delays resulting from third-party interpretation or language nuances.

By using our website, toolkits, and services, you agree to:

1. Provide Accurate Information: Ensure that any information, documents, or details you submit to us for support or translation are true, accurate, and lawfully obtained.

2. Personal Use Only: Use our materials, step-by-step guides, and templates solely for your personal birth search, advocacy, or informational needs.

3. Prohibited Activities: You agree not to misuse our platform, upload malicious code, attempt unauthorized access to our administrative systems, or use our tools to harass, stalk, or violate the privacy rights of any individual, adoption agency official, or biological relative.

Unless otherwise indicated, www.thebecoming.org and all materials contained therein—including website design, text, educational tutorials, downloadable guides, graphics, logos, and toolkits—are the intellectual property of The Becoming and protected by applicable copyright and trademark laws.

• Permitted Use: You are granted a limited, revocable, non-exclusive license to view, download, and print our educational guides and templates for personal, non-commercial birth search advocacy.

• Restrictions: You may not sell, reproduce, distribute, modify, or commercially exploit any material or content from The Becoming without our express written prior consent.

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, The Becoming, its Founder/CEO, Board of Directors, employees, volunteers, agents, and affiliates shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages resulting from:

• Your access to, use of, or inability to access or use our website, guides, or translation resources.

• Any decisions, actions, or outreach made by you based on the administrative guides or information provided.

• Denials, delays, withheld records, or actions by external agencies, governmental bodies (including NCRC), or private adoption entities.

• Emotional distress, grief, or personal outcomes arising from the birth search or family discovery process.

Our website and educational resources may contain links to third-party websites or services (e.g., government portals, social media platforms, agency databases) that are not owned or controlled by The Becoming.

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The Becoming has no control over, and assumes no responsibility for, the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third-party websites or services. You acknowledge and agree that we shall not be responsible or liable, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused by or in connection with the use of any such content or resources.

These Terms & Conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Missouri, United States, without regard to its conflict of law provisions. Any legal action or proceeding arising under these Terms shall be brought exclusively in the state or federal courts located in Missouri, USA.

We reserve the right, at our sole discretion, to modify or replace these Terms & Conditions at any time. Changes will become effective immediately upon posting to www.thebecoming.org. Your continued use of the website or our services following the posting of updated Terms constitutes acceptance of those changes.

If you have any questions, concerns, or inquiries regarding these Terms & Conditions, please contact us at: 

The Becoming

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Mailing Address:

215 W Pershing Road

Suite 403 PMB 1058

Kansas City, MO 64108

United States

Website: www.thebecoming.org

Contact / Administrative Oversight: Ashley Terrell, President