How can I know if I am the "closest living relative"?

LegacyUser

James David Oldham said: Kind of confusing on whether or not I am a person qualified to do ordinance work for a distant cousin (name suggested to me via email link) who has NOT been dead for at least 100 years? I have no idea who the closest living relative would be. If I say "yes" go ahead and let's do this guy's temple work....then I would basically be untruthful. It would be great if you could clarify that.

LegacyUser

Cary Holmquist said: You are the closest living relative if none of the following relations of the deceased person are still living: spouse (not divorced at time of death), child, parent, sibling. After those folks, everyone else in the deceased relationship chart is basically equal and eligible to submit the name.

LegacyUser

Tom Huber said: A close living relative as Cary defined them, must give permission. If all have died, then the following article and its associated article describe the conditions that must be met for reserving the deceased person who was born within the past 110 years: https://www.familysearch.org/help/sal.... There is an additional link at the bottom of the page which provides the instructions on how to request the reservation.

LegacyUser

James David Oldham said: Ok. thanks for the clarifications. Looks like it still requires some sleuthing and digging in order to honestly submit the names that the email sends as a suggestion.