What is expected if I adopt a orphan profile?

Question

I have reviewed a list of orphaned profiles with surnames that are also in my personal tree. I would like to adopt some of them and merge them into existing profiles if appropriate. What is expected of someone who adopts a profile with no manager? Is the goal to fill out the adopted profile's tree? That could be a a large commitment. I would like to adopt one that is either in my tree or that is related to it, such as sibling or a cousin of an ancestor, rather than start from scratch.

Comments

A help page which may provide information for you:  Help: Orphaned Profiles

If there is already a profile for an individual, you definitely should adopt it rather than create a new profile. I would think that, just like with starting a profile from scratch, you can work on improving the orphaned profile at your own pace. I've been adopting several orphaned profiles lately. My personal preference is to adopt one, fill it out with as many sources and information as I can before I adopt another one, but others prefer to adopt all then come back to improve the profiles later. Advice...do a search from the list of orphaned profiles to find the profiles and adopt from the lists so you get "credit" for adopting. I've been adopting ever since I've been a member by clicking on the "adopt this profile" link on the profile, but didn't realize until recently I wasn't getting "credit" unless I adopted from the orphaned list. You can find the orphaned lists under the "Find" tab at the upper right of the page.

Answer 1

If you adopt a profile, you should update it as much as possible, add sources, bio etc. You don't have to work on the profiles for other family members for the adopted profile unless you want to.

If it turns out not to be connected to your family, you can orphan it again, you can keep it on your watchlist which means that you will get notifications of any changes.

You can work on orphaned profiles without adopting them.

Just be careful that you aren't creating duplicates.

Comments

Thank you for the Best answer star, Danielle!