Step children

Discussion in Feature Requests Forum started by Marianne Handler, Jul 18, 2014
MH
Marianne Handler
I wish you could find a better way to show step children. I raised by step-children and want them attached to my name as well! There must be a better way to do this
EB
Edward Brooke
  website
Marianne, What you record is your choice, as is the way you record it. The whole point of the exercise, however, is to record historical data as it really is. Step children have a name(s) at birth, and that is the name that should be recorded in any accurate genealogical tree. If names are subsequently changed, perhaps legally, that can - and should - also be recorded in the notes as Also Known As or the more commonly used AKA. If you do choose to alter surnames you have to explain, somewhere, why the names were changed. Failure to do that will surely mislead any researchers that may have access to your tree in the future. It may, in some circumstances, also offend the step children concerned and/or their descendants.
PY
Pauline Young
Unfortunately, you have the problem that genealogy programs, not just TP, are concerned with the biological family (the blood line), which is where a person's ancestry lies, and not with additional facts that someone may have been raised by step parents, an older sibling, aunt, uncle etc.

As a step parent, I'm assuming you have no genetic link to your step children. Genealogy programs, sadly, do not record emotions. The only way you can be shown as the mother of your step children is if they have been legally adopted, in which case their record can show them as adopted. Otherwise, the only option I can see is to put in a short message in their notes to say that they were raised by their father and yourself following his widowhood/divorce and remarriage.

Hope this helps.