Privacy for Living and Deceased Individuals

While much of this information may be all over the internet, I prefer to take a more cautious approach. Details on the older generations will be available, while those of more recent generations will not.

Why Do This?

In the past, there was some debate as to whether or not information posted publically online in family trees could contribute to identity theft. But it seems that many experts are leaning towards caution nowadays. (For further reading look: here, here, here, and here.) I prefer to err on the side of caution. I would hate to have my tree mined for details such as a mother's maiden name or birth place.

In addition, I personally abhor the practice of immediately rushing to post information all over the internet about a recently deceased individual before the family has had time to properly grieve (I'm looking at you Find a Grave). Imagine their shock at stumbling upon a close loved one's personal information plastered all over the internet. A data privacy and grief nightmare rolled into one.

To that regard, I've developed the following guidelines regarding the information that is freely viewable by visitors to my website, and that which requires a User Account to view.

Living Individuals

Information on living individuals is not available for most people. Creating a User Account will not grant you access to view information on living individuals. Only select, trusted family members whom I invite to become Editors of the tree will be granted access to view information about living individuals.

Deceased Individuals

Information on deceased individuals is available depending upon several factors: if the date of death is known, and how many years have passed, or if the date of death is unknown and the date of birth is known, and if a vistor has registered for and been granted a User Account.

For Guest Visitors — those who do not have a User Account:

• Information will be privatized if an individual has been deceased for fewer than 30 years.
• For an unknown death date, but known birth date, information will be privatized until 120 years after the birth date.
• For an unknown birth or death date, information will be privatized for an appropriate amount of time based upon best guesses using sibling, parent, and/or spouse data.
• Information will not be available for living individuals.
• No access to the Discussion forums.

For Logged in Visitors — those with a User Account:

• Information will be available for deceased individuals.
• Information will not be available for living individuals for most User Accounts.
• Access will be granted to the Discussion forums.

Requesting a User Account

You may request a User Account by clicking the Register link in the top menu or by clicking here. Please be aware that each request must be manually reviewed and approved and sometimes I get behind. If you have requested an account and some time goes by without approval, contact me here.

In order to be granted a User Account, you must demonstrate a relationship to an existing person in the tree.