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

Article Id: 20221
November 26, 2023

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 shows 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 Changes.

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 or Remove Fields.
  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 Save Fields.
  7. In the transcription panel to the right or below the image, click the new name 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 Changes.

Steps (website or mobile): add 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 or Remove Fields.
  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 the one you want to add.
  5. Click Save Fields.
  6. Click in the new name field. A list of names appears. Click the name that fits the relationship.
  7. Click Save Changes.

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 or Remove Fields.
  4. At the top of the box that appears are existing relationships. To remove a relationship, click the X.
  5. Click Save Fields.
  6. Scroll down, and click Save Changes.

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.

How do I edit data in historical records that was incorrectly transcribed or indexed?
What is the difference between a record and an image?
How do I add a name to a relationship in historical records when the name is currently connected to the wrong record?
How do I edit a linked surname in historical records?
How do I correct or add a relationship name when the name appears on a different image of the record?
What is a principal name in a historical record?
To fix household groupings in United States Census records, try the Drag Names option

Was this helpful?