How to cancel Ancestry

✓ Last checked Oct 2026 against Ancestry’s official pages. See sources

Ancestry lets you cancel a membership or trial any time in Account Settings. Ancestry says to keep going until you get a cancellation confirmation number. That number is your proof.

Ways to cancel

Online: Go to Account Settings, find the membership under Membership, and select Cancel membership or Cancel trial.
Help: If you don’t see a cancel option, check Ancestry’s help article for the reasons and contact options.

Step by step

Sign in and go to Account Settings.
Under Membership, select Cancel membership or Cancel trial.
Follow the prompts until you receive a cancellation confirmation number. You’ll also get an email.
If you have more than one membership, repeat for each one.

Watch out for

You aren’t finished until you have a confirmation number. Keep it and the email.
Each paid membership has to be canceled separately.
Canceling doesn’t delete your trees, DNA results, or account. Your account becomes a free Registered Guest account.

Whatever method you use, save proof: a confirmation number, email, screenshot, or certified mail receipt. Then check your next statement.

Still charging you? Put it in writing

Each letter has a free preview. Unlock the full letter for $4 to copy it or download it as PDF or Word. We’ll fill in Ancestry for you.

Cancellation letter

A formal, dated cancellation notice to Ancestry: cancel, stop all charges, confirm in writing. Mail it certified for proof.

Preview my cancellation letter

Refund after cancellation

Charged after you canceled, auto-renewed without warning, or billed when a free trial ended? Ask Ancestry for your money back.

Preview my refund letter

Chargeback request to your bank

If Ancestry won’t refund you, ask your bank or card issuer to dispute the charge and block future ones.

Preview my chargeback letter

Free preview on every letter. Paying unlocks the full text and downloads. Need several? Unlimited is $9/month.

Your rights when canceling, in plain English

Signed up online? A federal law, the Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act (ROSCA), requires sellers of online subscriptions to show the key terms before taking your billing information, get your express consent before charging you, and give you a simple way to stop recurring charges (15 U.S.C. § 8403).
The FTC’s “click to cancel” rule is not in effect. The FTC adopted it in 2024, but a federal appeals court vacated it in July 2025 before it took effect. In March 2026 the FTC asked for public comment on a possible new rule. As of October 2026 no replacement rule has been adopted (rulemaking status).
State automatic renewal laws. Many states have their own rules. For example, California’s law says that if you signed up online, you must be able to cancel online, and it requires reminders before some renewals (California AG). Rules differ by state.
Gym contracts. Many states also have health club laws. Depending on the state, these can include a short window to cancel after you sign, or a right to cancel if you move far away or become disabled. Check your state consumer protection office (find yours).
Charged after you canceled? For a credit card, you can dispute a billing error in writing. The FTC says your letter should reach the card issuer within 60 days after the first bill with the error was sent to you (FTC). For automatic debits from a bank account, tell the company you’re revoking authorization, then tell your bank. To stop the next payment, notify your bank at least three business days before it’s scheduled (CFPB).

This is general information, not legal advice. Your contract and your state’s law decide what applies to you.

Sources

Summarized from Ancestry’s own pages, last checked Oct 2026. Companies change their policies, so check the official page before you act. Your contract or membership agreement controls.