Relationship calculator and undivorced spouse

Randall Hansen

Relationship calculator KA suggests that only undivorced spouse is included in the search. My ex-spouse continues to show up in various relationship screens. What must I do to have her not included? I have added a Divorce and date as a marriage fact. Do I need to remove her from FS entirely?

Alan E. Brown

The Knowledge Article that is mentioned is here: How does the relationship viewer determine how I am related to someone?

That article does indeed say "In October 2024, the relationship viewer was enhanced to include relationships through your undivorced spouse’s line." But I see no evidence that this statement is precisely true. Every situation that I have tested shows that all of my spouses are included. It doesn't matter whether they are divorced or preferred (as @sc woz incorrectly assumed — the KA correctly does not mention preferred spouses at all, since that is not a factor in relationship calculations). Similarly, in situations where one of my ancestors has multiple parents (e.g., adoptive and biological), all parents are candidates for calculating a relationship path.

I don't know whether FamilySearch intends to fix the relationship calculator to exclude divorced spouses (as the KA promises). But for now, I believe you can only exclude your divorced spouse from relationship calculations in by deleting the couple relationship to that spouse. This will have different effects, depending on the situation:

• If you share children with the divorced spouse, you could delete the couple relationship and still keep your relationship as co-parents to the children. Make sure you delete the couple relationship from the person page of one of the children; otherwise deleting the couple relationship will also delete the parent-child relationship(s).
• If you don't share children with the divorced spouse, then deleting the couple relationship will completely remove the spouse from any connection to you.

Neither of these options is great, since it requires you to remove the couple relationship, which did really exist at some point. You just have to decide which problem you prefer to live with — having someone not listed as a spouse who truly was a spouse, or having relationships calculated through them, even though they are no longer your spouse.

sc woz

@Randall Hansen

Do you have your preferred spouse set ….

This will ensure the spouse you want shows up in the relationship calculator.

Jack Hern

Good counsel here from @Alan E. Brown : "Neither of these options is great, since it requires you to remove the couple relationship, which did really exist at some point. You just have to decide which problem you prefer to live with — having someone not listed as a spouse who truly was a spouse, or having relationships calculated through them, even though they are no longer your spouse."

Genealogy and the FamilyTree are a statement of families and family relationships. Both the good and long running branches, as well as the short term and failed branches. It is not about feelings and 'sanitized' family lore. Definitely leave historical sourced relationships in place (good and bad ones).

I would understand that your (ex)spouse is also living - therefore your FS login is the only one to see said entry; and the only login to see the effects of the relationship calculator.

Being then a living entry the ONLY one effected by deleting the individual will be your own FS login.