How to Remove Someone From Familysearch Tree – a Guide

Navigating the vast landscape of the FamilySearch Tree can be a rewarding experience, connecting you with ancestors and relatives across generations. However, sometimes you might encounter a situation where an individual’s information needs to be adjusted or removed. This could be due to an accidental duplicate entry, a correction of a significant error, or even the removal of an individual whose presence on the tree is no longer deemed accurate or appropriate by the community standards.

Understanding the process for how to remove someone from FamilySearch Tree is crucial for maintaining the integrity and accuracy of this shared genealogical resource. FamilySearch is a collaborative platform, meaning edits and additions are visible to many. Therefore, any removal should be approached with care and a clear understanding of the platform’s guidelines. This guide will walk you through the steps involved, ensuring you can manage your contributions effectively and respectfully.

Understanding the Familysearch Tree and Data Integrity

The FamilySearch Tree is a monumental collaborative effort, aiming to build a single, shared ancestral tree for all humanity. This shared nature is its greatest strength, allowing for the discovery of new connections and the collective correction of errors. However, it also means that any changes, especially deletions, have a wider impact than in a private tree. Before you consider how to remove someone from FamilySearch Tree, it’s vital to grasp the principles of data integrity that FamilySearch upholds.

FamilySearch’s mission is to preserve genealogical records and provide free access to them. The Tree is built upon these records and the contributions of millions of users. Therefore, the emphasis is on accuracy, verifiable sources, and collaborative correction rather than outright deletion without cause. When an individual is added to the Tree, they are essentially becoming part of a permanent, shared record. This shared aspect dictates a careful and deliberate approach to any removal process.

Why Might You Need to Remove Someone?

Several scenarios might lead you to seek how to remove someone from FamilySearch Tree. Understanding these common reasons will help you determine if removal is the appropriate action and what evidence you might need to support your request.

• Duplicate Entries: This is perhaps the most common reason. Users may accidentally add the same person multiple times, or a person might be added independently by different users without realizing they already exist. In such cases, the goal is to merge the duplicate information and remove the redundant profile, not necessarily the individual’s existence from the tree.
• Incorrect Information Leading to Misidentification: Sometimes, an individual might be linked to the wrong family or have significant biographical details that are demonstrably incorrect and cannot be corrected through standard editing. If this misidentification is severe and cannot be rectified, removal might be considered.
• Non-Existent Individuals: In rare instances, an individual might be added based on a misunderstanding or a faulty record, and further research proves they never existed or were entirely fabricated.
• Living Persons Added in Error: While FamilySearch’s policy is to not actively include living individuals in the main collaborative tree (they are typically shown as children of their parents but not as independent profiles with extensive life details), sometimes errors occur.
• Policy Violations: Although less common for individual profiles, if an account or contribution significantly violates FamilySearch’s terms of service or community guidelines, actions might be taken by FamilySearch administrators.

The Difference Between Merging and Removing

It’s crucial to distinguish between merging duplicate records and completely removing an individual. In FamilySearch, the preferred method for handling duplicate profiles is merging. (See Also: how many magic tree house books are there)

• Merging: When you identify two or more profiles representing the exact same person, you should merge them. This process combines the information from the duplicate profiles into one, consolidating sources, ordinances, and relationships. The duplicate profile is then effectively retired, but the individual’s existence and data are preserved within the single, correct profile. This is the standard procedure for duplicates.
• Removing (or Deleting): True removal, where an individual’s entire profile and all associated data are permanently erased from the Tree, is a much more serious action. It is generally reserved for situations where the profile is demonstrably incorrect, a duplicate that cannot be merged through standard means, or represents a violation of FamilySearch’s policies. It is not a tool for simply tidying up your personal view of the tree or removing people you disagree with genealogically.

When Can You Directly Remove Someone?

Directly removing an individual from the FamilySearch Tree is not something most users can do unilaterally for any person. The ability to perform a true deletion is limited and typically requires administrative intervention or specific circumstances. However, there are actions you can take that might lead to an individual’s removal or effectively remove them from your view.

Scenario 1: Removing a Duplicate You Created

If you are the user who created a duplicate profile and it hasn’t been heavily edited or linked by others, you might have more direct control. However, FamilySearch’s system is designed to prevent easy deletion to maintain data integrity.

Steps if you suspect you created a duplicate:

1. Search Thoroughly: Before doing anything, conduct an exhaustive search for the individual. Use various search parameters (name, birth date, death date, spouse, parents) to ensure you aren’t creating another duplicate yourself.
2. Identify the Correct Profile: Locate the profile that already exists for this individual.
3. Attempt to Merge: The primary action is to merge your duplicate into the correct, existing profile. If you created the duplicate, you are often the best person to initiate this merge. Look for the ‘Merge Duplicate’ option on the duplicate person’s page. Follow the on-screen instructions carefully.
4. If Merging Fails or is Not an Option: If you cannot merge for some reason (e.g., the system flags it as too complex, or you lack the necessary permissions due to the profile’s history), you will need to seek assistance.

Scenario 2: Requesting Removal of a Misidentified or Erroneous Profile

For profiles that are not duplicates you created, or for profiles that are fundamentally incorrect and cannot be corrected through editing, you will likely need to involve FamilySearch support or the community. This is where understanding how to remove someone from FamilySearch Tree becomes a process of reporting and requesting.

Reporting a Profile for Review: (See Also: how to draw a palm tree)

1. Document Your Findings: Gather clear evidence. This could include reliable sources (vital records, census records, official documents) that contradict the information on the profile, prove it’s a duplicate of a different person, or demonstrate the individual never existed.
2. Add a Comment: On the profile page of the individual you believe needs to be removed or corrected, go to the ‘Comments’ section. Add a clear, concise comment explaining your concern and providing links to your evidence if possible. Use specific language like, “This profile appears to be a duplicate of [Link to Correct Profile]” or “Evidence suggests this individual did not exist; see attached sources.”
3. Use the ‘Report an Issue’ Feature: FamilySearch provides an ‘Report an Issue’ option on profile pages. This is a more formal way to flag potential problems. You can select categories like ‘Potential Duplicate’ or ‘Incorrect Information.’
4. Contact FamilySearch Support: If the issue is complex or not being resolved through comments or the ‘Report an Issue’ feature, you can contact FamilySearch Support directly. Explain your situation clearly and provide all the documentation you have gathered. They have the authority to investigate and, if warranted, perform deletions or merges that users cannot.

The Merging Process in Detail

Since merging is the preferred solution for duplicates, let’s delve deeper into how it works. This is often the most effective way to ‘remove’ a redundant profile without losing data.

Steps to Merge Duplicate Profiles:

1. Locate the Duplicate Profile: Navigate to the profile page of the person you believe is a duplicate.
2. Find the ‘Merge Duplicate’ Option: On the right-hand side of the person’s page, under ‘Tools’, you should see an option labeled ‘Merge Duplicate’. If you don’t see it, it might mean the profile has been merged recently, or there are restrictions.
3. Search for the Existing Profile: Clicking ‘Merge Duplicate’ will prompt you to search for the other profile that represents the same individual. Enter the ID number of the correct profile, or search by name and other identifying details.
4. Compare the Profiles: Once you’ve found the other profile, FamilySearch will present both side-by-side. This is the most critical step. Carefully compare all the information:

• Basic Information: Name, dates, places.
• Parents, Spouses, Children: Ensure these links are consistent or that the correct links are being preserved.
• Sources: Review the sources attached to both profiles. You will choose which sources to keep for the final, merged profile.
• Ordinances: If Temple ordinances have been performed, ensure they are correctly transferred.
• Notes and Other Information: Preserve any unique or valuable notes.

Important Considerations for Merging:

• Be Certain: Only merge profiles that you are absolutely certain represent the same individual. Merging incorrect profiles can create significant problems that are difficult to undo.
• Check for Recent Merges: If you see a profile you think is a duplicate, but you can’t find it via search or the ‘Merge Duplicate’ tool, it might have been recently merged.
• Preserve Sources: When merging, pay close attention to sources. Try to keep all valid sources. If two profiles have the same source with different transcriptions or interpretations, you might need to add both or decide which is more accurate.
• Ordinance Information: Be extremely careful with ordinance information. FamilySearch has strict rules about re-performing ordinances. Merging correctly preserves this.

When Direct Deletion Might Occur (user-Initiated vs. Administrator-Initiated)

As mentioned, true deletion is rare and usually requires FamilySearch administrators. However, let’s clarify the distinction:

User-Initiated Actions (merging, Reporting)

As a regular user, your primary tools are searching, adding, editing, commenting, and merging. You cannot directly ‘delete’ a person from the Tree. Your actions are geared towards correction and consolidation. When you report an issue or comment with evidence, you are initiating a process that might lead to removal by an administrator.

Administrator-Initiated Deletion

FamilySearch administrators have the ability to delete profiles. This usually happens in cases such as: (See Also: how to kill a tree)

• Persistent, Unresolvable Duplicates: If a duplicate profile cannot be merged through the standard process due to system limitations or user errors, administrators might step in to delete the erroneous duplicate.
• Profiles with Fabricated Information: If research clearly proves a person was entirely made up and has no basis in reality, an administrator may remove the profile.
• Profiles Violating Policy: This could include profiles created with offensive content, or persistent attempts to insert incorrect information that cannot be corrected.
• Accidental Creation of ‘Orphaned’ Profiles: In very rare cases, a profile might be created that is completely disconnected and provides no genealogical value, and administrators might clean these up.

What You Can Do If You Disagree with Information or Placement

If your concern isn’t a clear duplicate or a fabricated person, but rather a disagreement with how someone is related, their dates, or their placement in a family, the process is generally not removal.

• Edit the Information: If you have evidence to correct dates, places, or relationships, use the ‘Edit’ function. Always attach your sources to support your changes.
• Add a Comment: If you have a genealogical disagreement but lack definitive proof for an edit, or if you want to discuss a placement, use the ‘Comments’ section to explain your reasoning and cite any evidence you have.
• Discuss with Other Contributors: FamilySearch often shows who last edited a profile. You can sometimes reach out to those users to discuss your concerns collaboratively.

Remember, the goal of FamilySearch is to build the most accurate and comprehensive ancestral tree possible. This is achieved through collaboration, discussion, and the careful application of evidence.

Ethical Considerations and Best Practices

When dealing with genealogical data, especially in a collaborative environment like the FamilySearch Tree, ethical considerations are paramount. Understanding how to remove someone from FamilySearch Tree also means understanding when not to.

• Respect for Ancestors: Treat all individuals in the Tree with respect. Even if you find errors, the approach should be corrective and respectful, not dismissive.
• Focus on Evidence: All changes, especially those that might lead to removal or significant edits, should be based on reliable genealogical evidence. Personal opinions or unsupported claims are not sufficient grounds for altering or removing profiles.
• Collaboration Over Conflict: Approach disagreements with a collaborative spirit. The Tree is a shared resource, and working together to resolve discrepancies is more productive than attempting to unilaterally remove information.
• Privacy of Living Persons: FamilySearch has strict policies to protect the privacy of living individuals. If you encounter a living person with inappropriate details, report it immediately.
• Understanding the ‘Why’: Before taking any action that could alter or remove a profile, ask yourself: “Why am I doing this?” Is it to correct an error, remove a duplicate, or for a less genealogical reason? Your intention matters.

The FamilySearch Tree is a dynamic and evolving resource. While the tools for direct deletion are limited to protect its integrity, the processes for correction, merging, and reporting are robust. By understanding these mechanisms, you can effectively manage your contributions and help maintain the accuracy of this invaluable genealogical tool.

Conclusion

Effectively managing your contributions to the FamilySearch Tree involves understanding the nuances of editing, merging, and, in rare cases, requesting removals. While direct deletion of a person’s profile is not a standard user function, the platform prioritizes accuracy through robust merging tools for duplicates. If you encounter a profile that needs removal due to being a duplicate, incorrect, or fabricated, your primary actions involve thorough searching, attempting to merge, or formally reporting the issue with clear evidence. Always prioritize evidence-based corrections and collaborative discussion to uphold the integrity of this shared genealogical resource.

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