How do I change vital information in Family Tree?

In Family Tree, you can correct the name, sex, or event information for a person, regardless of whether you added it.

Family Tree is an open, collaborative environment. Your change shows in a change history, along with your Contact ID and a means to contact you. Any user, including you, can reverse changes.

Before you start

  • Focus on accuracy. Make changes that make the person's profile more correct.
  • Be prepared to explain your changes, and, when possible, attach sources.
  • Consider contacting the user who made the last change before you make a correction. To find contact information, click the user's name, and then click Message.
  • Other Family Tree users could be following this profile. (You can see how many are following when you make your correction.) Users who follow the profile receive a Family Tree notification when you make a change. Other users can contact you to discuss your change.

Steps (website)

  1. Sign in to FamilySearch, and click Family Tree. Then click Tree.
  2. Find the person that you want to enhance.
  3. Click the person's name. In the details that pop up, click the person's name again.
  4. Click the Details tab.
  5. Beside the information you want to change, click the Edit icon .
  6. Review the sources and reason statement. Continue only if your change makes the information more accurate.
  7. When editing a name, choose the appropriate language in the field above the name fields.
  8. Make your changes.
    • If the option is available to delete information, the Delete button appears on the left side. Scroll to find it.
  9. If you change a date or place, select a standardized date or place.​ If no matching standard is available, select exactly what you typed.
  10. Enter a reason statement. Explain why the information is correct. If the existing reasoning is applicable, leave the existing explanation, and add your own comments.
  11. Click Save.

We recommend that you refresh the web page after you save changes.

Steps (mobile app)

  1. Navigate to the Person page of the individual whose information that you want to correct.
  2. Tap Details.
  3. In the Vitals section, tap the information that you want to change.
  4. Tap Edit.
  5. Review the sources and reason statement. Continue only if your change makes the information more accurate.
  6. Edit the information.
    • If you are able to delete the information, you see a Delete option at the bottom.
  7. Enter a reason statement. Explain why the information is correct. If the existing reasoning is applicable, leave the existing explanation, and add your own comments.
  8. Tap Save

Steps (Family Tree Lite)

  1. On the Family screen, tap the name of the person whose information you want to correct.
  2. Tap the information that you want to change, and tap Edit.
  3. Review the reason statement. Continue only if your change makes the information more accurate.
  4. Edit the information.
    • If you are able to delete the information, you see a Delete option at the bottom.
  5. Enter a reason statement. Explain why the information is correct. If the existing reasoning is applicable, leave the existing explanation, and add your own comments.
  6. Tap Save

After you finish

Whenever possible, attach sources to show where you found your information. 

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