Estate Planning:give account access while I am the primary user?
Is it possible to give another person access to my account while I am the primary user?
I am doing my estate planning and would like to add someone so that in the event of my death, or if I am unable to continue as the account owner, allow them to take over my research.
I want to pass my research on to someone else.
Answers
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Hi, Thanks for your question.
There is no method to give another person permanent access to your FamilySearch account.
What is available is "Helper Access", but this access does need renewing once a year.
These two articles will give more information on this...
One thing to be aware of is that the Family Tree within FamilySearch is a global family tree. (https://www.familysearch.org/en/blog/online-family-tree#:~:text=The%20free%20FamilySearch%20website%20is,contributed%20by%20millions%20of%20descendants.) So anyone is able to see the data you have entered for deceased persons. For individuals who you've entered and are still living, only you are able to see those records (or someone with helper access)
Thanks for the great work you are doing in preserving the details of your ancestors.
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Thanks for your quick response. I am new to the site and wasn't sure when to get an answer.
So you say that the only proprietary genealogy data I enter is for living persons?
If so, then the Family Search site appears to be only for adding to a global gen file and gathering research data to add to my gen software on my computer. Is this correct?
I hoped to enter my gen data to an online site and pass it to my family, requiring only an account for the new user. I have 20+ years of data and gen software that may not be the first choice for whoever inherits my data.
I am looking for an easier way for my beneficiary to take over my research.
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FamilySearch is a great place to store all your research online, so that all your family is able to access the data and view it. The living people you enter however, are protected to allow for privacy.
Your work, once on familySearch will then be preserved for generations to come, allowing people to continue to add you you work and research as more information comes available.
I myself used to used gen software on my computer, but after almost loosing 30 years of data a few times with hardware issues, have now gone completely online and in the cloud for my data storage.
Good look in your continued research.
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FYI
Welcome to the "Community.FamilySearch" Forum.
I am just another 'lowly' User/Patron ...
Just in passing ...
Further to; and, in support of, what 'Kevin' has already proffered ...
And, just so that you are more aware ...
Here an old 'standby' of mine, that I have previously proffered on occasion ...
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Most new (and, some old) Users/Patrons, DO NOT, understand, the basic 'nature' and 'premise', of the "Family Tree" Part, of 'FamilySearch', when they join in.
Please let me explain ...
[ And, please bear with me; as, I am VERY 'Verbose' ... that is my 'style' ... ]
We do not have our OWN "Tree", in the "Family Tree" Part, of 'FamilySearch'.
We ONLY have "Branches" (ie. Ancestral" lines), that are interconnected, in this SINGLE "One" World "Tree", for all of us, that is the "Family Tree" Part, of 'FamilySearch'.
The "Family Tree" Part, of 'FamilySearch', is NOT like 'On-Line' "Websites" (eg. "Ancestry_com"; or "MyHeritage_com"; or, the like); and/or, 'standalone' personal (computer) programmes (eg, the OLD, now no longer supported, "PAF"; or, "Ancestral Quest"; or, the like).
We DO NOT have "Private"/"Personal" 'Trees', in the "Family Tree" Part, of 'FamilySearch', like other 'On-Line' "Websites"; and/or, 'standalone' personal (computer) programmes.
We do not even, own; or, manage; and, are NOT even responsible for, the "Deceased" individuals/persons, in "Family Tree" Part, of 'FamilySearch'.
And, most importantly ...
We DO NOT even, own; or, manage; and, are NOT even responsible for, Our OWN "Deceased" Ancestors/Family/Relatives, in the "Family Tree" Part, of 'FamilySearch'.
The "Family Tree" Part, of 'FamilySearch', is built on a "Open Edit" Platform - hence, why any "Registered" User/Patron can "Edit" (ie. Add, Delete; and/or, Change) ANY "Deceased" individual/person, in the "Family Tree" Part, of 'FamilySearch'.
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And ...
Furthermore ...
Currently ...
Specifically, in relation, to ANY "Living" individuals/person, that you create/enter, in the "Family Tree" Part, of 'FamilySearch' ...
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You can certainly "Merge"/"Combine" any "Deceased" individual/person, in the "Family Tree" Part, of 'FamilySearch', with another "Deceased" individual/person, in "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch', regardless of who the User/Patron was, that initially created those "Deceased" individuals/persons; as, they DO NOT reside with the User/Patron, who initially created them - they are "Public".
In fact, you can ONLY 'see' "Deceased" individuals/persons, in the "Family Tree" Part, of 'FamilySearch'; except, with this 'rider', that you can ALSO only see "Living" individual/person, in the "Family Tree" Part, of 'FamilySearch', that YOU created; as, they reside in your "Private Spaces".
No other User/Patron, can 'see' ANY "Living" individuals/persons, that were created by another User/Patron; as, they ONLY reside in the "Private Spaces", of the User/Patron who created them.
We CANNOT even 'see', the ACTUAL Record, in the "Family Tree" Part, of 'FamilySearch', of our IMMEDIATE Family (eg. Spouse; Children; Parents; Siblings; ETC; Etc; etc), if they are "Living"; and, they have their own 'FamilySearch' Account.
Of course, you can create your "Living" Family members; and, record them in the "Family Tree" Part, of 'FamilySearch'; but, they will ONLY be seen by you:
▬ You cannot "Share" them with any other User/Patron.
▬ You cannot "Merge"/'Combine" them, with any other "Living" individual/person, residing in the "Private Spaces", of another User//Patron.
There is CURRENTLY, no mechanism, in the "Family Tree" Part, of 'FamilySearch', for Users/Patrons, to "Share"; or, "give permission" to "Share", the "Living" individuals/persons, in their own "Private Spaces", with/between other/another User(s)/Patron(s).
There are a myriad of "Privacy" Laws, within the many various, Countries; and, Unions, throughout the World - it is a nightmare to negotiate.
The "Family Tree" Part, of 'FamilySearch', is used in many, Countries; and, Unions, throughout the World; and, as such, must adhere to the myriad of "Privacy" Laws, throughout the World.
Hence, "Privacy" is one of the reasons that we cannot "Share" the "Living" individuals/persons in our own "Private Spaces" - it is NOT the ONLY reason; but, certainly has a bearing on the matter.
Another factor, is that such would have to be 'Coded'/'Programmed', into the Programme, that is the "Family Tree" Part, of 'FamilySearch'.
'Yes', these "Living" individuals/persons, in the "Family Tree" Part, of 'FamilySearch', WILL, in fact, in many (most) cases will be "Duplicated" - unfortunately a necessary situation that currently cannot be avoided.
I know, that there are "Duplicates", of the "Living" ME - at least, one for my Wife and each of our Children, not to mention my other ("Living") extended Family members.
Here are some "Knowledge Articles", in 'FamilySearch', in regard to "Private Spaces"; and, "Living" individuals/persons:
Who can see my living relatives in Family Tree?
https://www.familysearch.org/help/helpcenter/article/who-can-see-my-living-relatives-in-family-tree
How does Family Tree protect the privacy of living people?
https://www.familysearch.org/help/helpcenter/article/what-is-a-private-space-in-family-tree
What Family Tree features are available in my private space?
Can my living relatives share a Family Tree private space to work together?
https://www.familysearch.org/help/helpcenter/article/share-a-family-tree-private-space-with-family
Can I transfer my Family Tree private space to another user?
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I hope, that this may help/assist, somewhat.
Brett
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What is available is "Helper Access", but this access does need renewing once a year.
Is this available to everyone, or only to LDS members with LDS accounts on FamilySearch?
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FYI
It's 'Brett'.
Short Answers: 'No'; and, 'Yes'.
Unfortunately ...
The, "Help Others"; and, "(Consultant) Planner", features/facilities/functions, in 'FamilySearch', are ONLY available, to Users/Patrons, of 'FamilySearch', who are Members of the Church.
The features/facilities/functions, CAN, be used, by ANY User/Patron, of 'FamilySearch', who is a Member of the Church; but, are primarily, used by Ward/Branch/Stake/District "Temple and Family History, Consultants", to DIRECTLY help/assist, members of one's Ward/Branch/Stake/District, who are DOING the Genealogy/Family History (and, of course, "Temple" Work), for their OWN, Ancestors; and, "Ancestral" Lines; which, of course, always was; and, will always remain, the Basic 'Nature' and 'Premise'; plus, the "Primary" purpose, of the "Family Tree" Part, of 'FamilySearch'.
That has been, the way, it has always been ...
Who knows, that may change, in the future ...
I hope, that this may help/assist, somewhat.
Brett
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