Editorial Guidelines

These are the rules our editorial team follows when writing, reviewing, and updating content at GetDebtFree.tools. We publish these openly because YMYL content readers deserve to know how we operate.

Sourcing

• Every numerical statistic must be sourced from a primary authoritative body (CFPB, Federal Reserve, IRS, FTC, Census Bureau, BLS, or comparable)
• "Average X is Y" type claims always link to the source page or report
• Date of the cited data is included (e.g., "Federal Reserve Q4 2025 report")
• We do not cite each other's sites as primary sources — we cite the underlying authoritative source
• For behavioral research claims, we link to the original peer-reviewed paper or institutional study

Fact-checking

• All calculator math is verified against amortization formulas, then cross-checked against a second public calculator (typically CFPB's)
• Tax-related claims are verified against the current year's IRS publications
• Legal claims (debt collection, bankruptcy, statute of limitations) link to either federal law or state-specific FTC consumer guidance
• Content older than 12 months is re-reviewed before remaining in primary site sections

Conflict of interest

• Affiliate partnerships are disclosed prominently near every CTA, not buried in footers
• We never recommend a specific lender or program because it pays the highest commission
• Editorial recommendations are made on math and consumer benefit, not on commercial relationships
• Sponsored content, if ever published, would be labeled "Sponsored" at the top — we currently publish no sponsored content

What we won't write about

• Specific stock picks or investment timing — we are not investment advisors
• Tax preparation for individual returns — we link to IRS resources or licensed CPAs
• Legal advice for bankruptcy filings — we link to consumer bankruptcy attorneys
• "Get rich quick" or "make money online" content — outside our scope

AI-assisted content disclosure

We use AI tools for research assistance, drafting, and editing. Every published piece is reviewed by a named human editor (currently Xavier C.H.), fact-checked against authoritative sources, and accepts editorial accountability via byline. We follow Google's December 2025 Helpful Content guidance: AI use is acceptable when content is enriched with original insights, attributed to a named author, and aligned with real user intent rather than search volume alone.

Last reviewed: May 26, 2026.