How do I request ordinances for an ancestor who was born in the last 110 years?

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When you reserve ordinances for your ancestors, you may come across a warning message that reads, "Permission Required." The message means that the ancestor was born within the last 110 years. You must receive permission from a close living relative before you can reserve the name for temple work. Verbal permission is acceptable.

A close living relative is an undivorced spouse, an adult child, a parent, or a sibling.

FamilySearch handles requests for step relationships on a case-by-case basis.

If no close living relatives exist to grant permission, you can still request permission to do the ordinances. Please provide evidence that no close living relatives exist. 

For more information on this topic, please consult the Church’s General Handbook: Serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 28.1.

Grandchildren can request the ordinances for their deceased grandparents. Grandchildren still need permission from a close living relative. Grandchildren do not fill out the permission form.

Before you start

• To request permission, you need an email address and a phone number of the close living relative who gave you permission. 
• Make sure that the person who gave permission appears in Family Tree as a close living relative of the deceased person.
• If no close relatives are alive, make sure that Family Tree contains their death information. Attach sources as evidence. 

Steps (website)

1. In Family Tree on the FamilySearch.org website, navigate to the person page of the relative whose ordinances you want to request. 
2. On the person page, a series of tabs appears directly below the relative's name. Click Ordinances.
3. Click Request (Permission Required).
4. In the Permission Required box, click I Have Permission.
5. Answer the question, "Is the spouse alive?"
6. Fill out the information, and click Submit.
7. A message lets you know you submitted the request. 

Steps (mobile app)

1. In the Family Tree mobile app, navigate to the person page of the relative whose ordinances you want to request. 
2. Beneath the name banner, tap Ordinances.
3. Tap Request Permission. 
4. Beneath the policy statement, enter your email address and phone number. 
5. Enter your relationship to this person, along with your reason for the request. 
6. Enter the name of the person who gave you permission. 
7. Identify the relationship between the person who gave permission and the deceased relative. 
8. Enter contact information for the person who gave permission. 
9. In the top-right portion of the screen, tap Submit. 

Steps (Family Tree Lite)

You cannot request permission in Family Tree Lite.

After you finish

You receive an email about your request no matter what the decision is. FamilySearch Support works to reply in a timely manner. Be sure to check your junk mail folder when you look for this email.

• FamilySearch approves your request. The system adds the family name automatically to your family name list. From there, you can print the family name card. If the name does not appear on your family name list, reply to the approval email you received.
• Your request requires further information. Please respond with the information.
• FamilySearch declines your request. You cannot repeat the request process. Instead, you can reply to the email you received.

Related articles

I cannot find any close living relatives to grant permission for ordinances
Do I need permission from the closest living relative to do temple ordinances?
Can I request proxy temple ordinances for a friend?
Individuals for whom I can request temple ordinances
Doing temple work for people not related to me

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