How do I correct relationships in the transcription of a historical record?

Article Id: 20221
December 10, 2024
Share

Before you begin

Determine whether you can correct relationships in the record collection.

  1. From your search results, click an icon that looks like a sheet of paper. A record details page appears—the page that shows the indexed information.
  2. In the dark bar at the top, look for Edit.
    1. If Edit is grayed out, you cannot edit the index.
    2. If Edit is blue, click the button.
  3. In some record collections, a box appears with additional Edit buttons for the fields you can edit. If you see the box and buttons, you cannot edit relationships in the record collection.
  4. In other record collections, you move to a new page.
    • On the website, the record image is on the left. On the right, you see the indexed information and pencil icons to the right of the headings. You can edit relationships in the record collection.
    • When using the FamilySearch Family Tree mobile app, the indexed information can show below the record image.

Steps (website or mobile): correct the name in a relationship

  1. Start from the record details page (the page showing the indexed data), and at the top of the page, below the name, click Edit. 
  2. On the right or below the image, find Relationships. Click the pencil icon. 
  3. Find the name field for the relationship that you want to correct. Above the field, you see a relationship, such as Child.
  4. If the name does not match the relationship, click the X beside the name.
  5. Click in the name field.
  6. Scroll through the list of available names, and click the correct name.
  7. At the bottom of the panel, click Save.

Steps (website or mobile): change the relationship type

  1. Start from the record details page (the page showing the indexed data), and at the top of the page, below the name, click Edit. 
  2. On the right, or below the image, find Relationships. Click the pencil icon. 
  3. Below the name field, click Add More Information.
  4. Remove the existing relationship:
    1. The existing relationship is at the top of the box in a section titled Added Fields.
    2. To remove the relationship, click the X.
  5. Add the correct relationship type:
    1. Possible relationships appear in 3 categories: Most Common Relationships, Family Relationships, and Other Relationships.
    2. Review the possible relationships, and click the one that you want to add.
  6. Click Update.
  7. In the transcription panel to the right or below the image, click the new relationship field.
  8. Scroll through the list of available names and click the correct name for the relationship.
  9. At the bottom of the panel, click Save.

Steps (website or mobile): add relationships

  1. Start from the record details page (the page showing the indexed data), and at the top of the page, below the name, click Edit. 
  2. On the right panel, or below the image, find Relationships. Click the pencil icon. 
  3. Click Add More Information.
  4. A box appears:
    1. Possible relationships appear in 3 categories: Most Common Relationships, Family Relationships, and Other Relationships.
    2. Review the possible relationships, and click any that you want to add.
  5. Click Update.
  6. Click in each new relationship field. A list of names appears. Click the name that fits the relationship.
  7. Click Save.

Steps (website or mobile): remove a name that does not belong in a relationship:

  1. Start from the record details page (the page showing the indexed data), and at the top of the page, below the name, click Edit. 
  2. On the right panel, or below the image, find Relationships. Click the pencil icon. 
  3. Click Add More Information.
  4. At the top of the box that appears are existing relationships. To remove a relationship, click the X.
  5. Click Update.
  6. Scroll down, and click Save.

Drag names and use split screen

To move names to the correct record group, try the Drag Names option.
If the information you want to add to a group is on another page, use the Split-Screen Mode.
See the related articles for detailed instructions.

Fix errors in historical record transcriptions or indexes
What is the difference between a record and an image?
Move a name to the correct relationship in historical records
How do I edit a linked surname in the index of the 1950 US Census?
Correct or add a relationship when a name is on a different image in the historical record
What is a primary name or person in a historical record?
To fix household groupings in United States Census records, try the Drag Names option

Was this helpful?