Overview
Managing family data for divorced or separated parents can be complex, especially when children and giving records are involved. Why? Clean data ensures accurate reporting, communication, and contribution tracking. The good news: there are tools to help you handle these situations effectively.
Before You Begin
- Do NOT duplicate child records under each parent. This causes reporting errors, sync issues, and lookup problems.
- Confirm answers to these questions before making changes:
- Which family member will donations go to?
- Who will have custody of the children?
- Which family members will continue attending?
Steps
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Handle Giving Records
- Determine where donations should go (usually the primary contributor for tax purposes).
- To change the primary family member:
- Go to Family tab → click pencil icon to edit relationships.
- Use the radio button to select the new primary (e.g., spouse who will remain active).
- Click SAVE.
- Go to Family tab → click pencil icon to edit relationships.
- Ensure Group Giving With Family remains intact.
- Use Consolidate Family Giving to move all contributions to the new primary.
- If needed, move individual transactions manually.
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Set Up Separate Households
- Identify which spouse is moving out.
- Navigate to their profile → Family tab → click pencil icon → click X to remove from household.
Note: You cannot remove a primary family member until relationships and giving are updated.
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Check-In and Communication Setup
- Determine if both spouses will continue attending and if they will bring children.
- If only one spouse attends, move children to that household.
- If both attend, use Other Relationships on the child’s profile to link the non-custodial parent for check-in permissions and communication.
Important Notes
- Never duplicate child records.
- Always update family relationships before moving individuals.
- Verify giving consolidation before removing or splitting households.
Troubleshooting
If changes don’t reflect, confirm you saved edits and check relationship settings.
FAQ
Q: Can both parents have check-in access for the same child?
A: Yes, by adding the non-custodial parent under Other Relationships on the child’s profile.
Q: What happens to giving records when splitting households?
A: They move to the designated primary family member using Consolidate Family Giving.
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