Methodology and verification policy

Where listings come from

Listings start from public and official sources, and from businesses that add or claim themselves. Every listing shows its source.

Facts and accepted evidence

Each fact names its evidence and check date. "Checked in the official registry" and "Checked on the official list" describe the source we read. "Read on the business's website" describes a website statement; "Read in a document" describes document evidence. "Stated by the business" describes an attestation, email or phone statement. These labels describe evidence, not an endorsement. A value not yet checked says "Not yet checked".

Expiry

A checked value expires after a set period for its kind of fact (on this site, from 30 to 365 days) unless it is checked again. Expired values are labelled "Expired" until a new check is recorded. Nothing re-checks automatically.

Statements from listed businesses

A claimed business can state facts in the fields open to it. Until a check is recorded, these say "Stated by the business, not yet checked". If the business marks a value unknown, it says "Unknown — the business was asked". Other unknown values say "Unknown — not yet researched".

Rules and deadlines

Rules show their sources and dates. Confirm a rule on its primary source before acting. The tools read the rule table, so a corrected date corrects the tools.

Listing order

Listings with more checked facts come first, then A to Z; payment never changes the order.

Money never changes facts

Basic listings are free and corrections never depend on payment. Payment never changes a fact or endorses a business.

Corrections

Email hello@hemplegalmap.com.