What to do with my deceased mother's FamilySearch account

MarianneDittmar1 · July 21, 2021

My stepmother passed away December 2019. She was sealed to my father, who is also deceased. They were prolific researchers and genealogists. Shortly before her death she gave my family many printed family file cards. Since the temple now retains the cards, once we do one ordinance, we have no way to finish the other ordinances because we do not have access to her account. Also, there are a lot of more names reserved in her temple file that need to be done. She did not have any children and most of the names in her account are on my father's line. What can be done to allow us access to the names in her reserved temple file?

Caryl · July 21, 2021

HI MarianneDittmar1

Thank you for asking about your deceased stepmother's account.

When we receive proof of a user's death, we disable accounts of deceased users.

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: The account is disabled after a local clerk adds the death information to the membership record.
Public users: A living person user can submit proof of death to FamilySearch Support, and the account will be disabled.

Surviving family members cannot inherit or gain access to the disabled account.

Deceased Members

When a member of the Church dies, the clerk adds the death information. The Membership Department receives the death information and adds a death date. FamilySearch locks the member's account. As a result, the temple ordinance list of the deceased member changes:

No one can print new family name cards from the temple ordinance list.
Temples continue to do the work for names already shared with the temple.
We can release names not shared with the temple upon request. Release is subject to the 110-year approval process.
Family and friends can complete family name cards printed before the account was locked. Please check to be sure the ordinances are not already completed.
Family names are released in accordance with the 2-year policy.

Unfortunately you will need to wait until the ordinances expire and then reserve them yourself. The Help Center has more information "deceased member's account". Thank you Family Search