# How “unlink from parents” works **URL:** \ **Category:** RootsMagic\ **Tags:** question, rootsmagic\ **Created:** [March 5, 2026, 4:32pm UTC](https://community.rootsmagic.com/t/how-unlink-from-parents-works/15493 "2026-03-05T16:32:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jasper2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9d8465/32.png) [@Jasper2](https://community.rootsmagic.com/u/Jasper2)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 4:32pm UTC](https://community.rootsmagic.com/t/how-unlink-from-parents-works/15493/1 "2026-03-05T16:32:35Z")
Hello, When I try to move Renaud (739), son of Alix (741), to give him Catherine de Ludres (716) as his mother, I discover through the “unlink from parents” function that Renaud is the son of Alix (see screenshot). This seems inconsistent and the function has no effect. I should point out that the father is the same for all three marriages, which is probably why I am having this problem, as it can be reproduced for N (2069), Isabelle (1075), and Alix (1076). What is the solution? Thank you ![ChildOfThisFamily](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/rootsmagic/original/2X/4/4ec96f5b7f175660aaae81d30dd14d209aedffc2.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![kevync1985](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3be4f8/32.png) [@kevync1985](https://community.rootsmagic.com/u/kevync1985)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 5:13pm UTC](https://community.rootsmagic.com/t/how-unlink-from-parents-works/15493/2 "2026-03-05T17:13:14Z")
If you are on RM 11 – usually the life summary view is the easiest to do that sort of thing. at least in my opinion If children need to be moved I would add to correct couple then remove you can unlink from 3 dots or add in the couple section ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/rootsmagic/original/2X/c/c7b8a45e3301d48de225d015799b0c66637b5ec7.png) ---
**Author:** ![Jasper2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9d8465/32.png) [@Jasper2](https://community.rootsmagic.com/u/Jasper2)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 5:20pm UTC](https://community.rootsmagic.com/t/how-unlink-from-parents-works/15493/3 "2026-03-05T17:20:54Z")
Thank’s I did’nt know there were these functions a this place. I will try. ---
**Author:** ![kevync1985](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3be4f8/32.png) [@kevync1985](https://community.rootsmagic.com/u/kevync1985)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 5:25pm UTC](https://community.rootsmagic.com/t/how-unlink-from-parents-works/15493/4 "2026-03-05T17:25:04Z")
There are multiple ways to do many things (accomplish same result). Hopefully we see Birth info or life span that would also help in the screen view. The 3 dots you can unlink person (Spouse or child) when that person/row is selected. I am sure other will give you the preferred method. ---
**Author:** ![nkess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b3f665/32.png) [@nkess](https://community.rootsmagic.com/u/nkess)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 5:29pm UTC](https://community.rootsmagic.com/t/how-unlink-from-parents-works/15493/5 "2026-03-05T17:29:44Z")
Hi @Jasper2 I think I see the problem as I copied the names of each spouses for Phillippe and added kids to all 3 wives–when you are in the descendant view, it is only giving you one option of parents to UNLINK Renaud from, instead of giving you the option of each set of parents and it’s the wrong wife, so it does nothing So what you need to do is go to the FAMILY VIEW that has Renaud as the son of Alix ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/rootsmagic/original/2X/6/64ba31c907a8365317773f0bccb836d02dcb5c78.png) Then UNLINK Renaud by right clicking or using the drop down menu-- the correct family should show up–if it does, click on UNLINK and you are done with that part–note sometimes the wrong family shows up first even in family view–if so, hit cancel and it should take you to the next family.. To attach Renaud to the correct mother, again use Family View and go to the page that has Phillippe and wife Catherine-- click on add child and use SELECT EXISTING PERSON–highlight Renaud in the list and hit okay-- it will ask if you want to rearrange kids then hit okay and you should be good to go Just keep in mind that a child should always be added to the parents page–do NOT use add Father/ Mother if the parents already exist ---
**Author:** ![Jasper2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9d8465/32.png) [@Jasper2](https://community.rootsmagic.com/u/Jasper2)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 5:30pm UTC](https://community.rootsmagic.com/t/how-unlink-from-parents-works/15493/6 "2026-03-05T17:30:25Z")
Okay, I will link the three children to the first wife if possible, and then I will remove the link between the children and the third wife. Is that correct? ---
**Author:** ![kevync1985](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3be4f8/32.png) [@kevync1985](https://community.rootsmagic.com/u/kevync1985)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 5:33pm UTC](https://community.rootsmagic.com/t/how-unlink-from-parents-works/15493/7 "2026-03-05T17:33:51Z")
> [@nkess](#): > > Just keep in mind that a child should always be added to the parents page–do NOT use add Father/ Mother if the parents already exist this is part many people get confused on. You can do same on Life Summary page as I mentioned also if on RM11 by adding to the child/children to the correct couple/parent ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/rootsmagic/original/2X/c/c64483f760f924f20d3eda577ac8393d8ba2f004.png) ---
**Author:** ![Jasper2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9d8465/32.png) [@Jasper2](https://community.rootsmagic.com/u/Jasper2)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 5:45pm UTC](https://community.rootsmagic.com/t/how-unlink-from-parents-works/15493/8 "2026-03-05T17:45:07Z")
I’ll go through the life summary to see how it works. [kevync1985](https://community.rootsmagic.com/u/kevync1985) and [nkess](https://community.rootsmagic.com/u/nkess) Many thanks to both of you. ---
**Author:** ![kevync1985](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3be4f8/32.png) [@kevync1985](https://community.rootsmagic.com/u/kevync1985)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 5:52pm UTC](https://community.rootsmagic.com/t/how-unlink-from-parents-works/15493/9 "2026-03-05T17:52:47Z")
> [@Jasper2](#): > > life summar Life summary may not always be the best method for everything (or everyone) but I find generally easier than other screen. Until you are comfortable – you may want to take a couple of screenshots and/or create a back up so you can fix something if you make unintended changes Kevin ---
**Author:** ![nkess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b3f665/32.png) [@nkess](https://community.rootsmagic.com/u/nkess)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 6:35pm UTC](https://community.rootsmagic.com/t/how-unlink-from-parents-works/15493/10 "2026-03-05T18:35:35Z")
@kevync1985 I’ve never tried it with the life summary which is why I didn’t suggest it-- so I tried it and messed it up the 1st time but got it figured out-- so yes both ways will work ---
**Author:** ![kbens0n](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/community.rootsmagic.com/kbens0n/32/80_2.png) [@kbens0n](https://community.rootsmagic.com/u/kbens0n)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2026, 2:19am UTC](https://community.rootsmagic.com/t/how-unlink-from-parents-works/15493/11 "2026-03-06T02:19:28Z")
This thread [Workflow for Moving Children Between Parents](https://community.rootsmagic.com/t/workflow-for-moving-children-between-parents/15441) covers the RootsMagic “flaw” whereby the wrong parents are being listed for unlink operations involving “sub-descendants”. You should “currently” avoid doing so in the People view tab that is named Descendants: ![Screenshot 2026-03-05 211012](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/rootsmagic/original/2X/3/36628ef665788dae1a34bb203d07345b9fb9e6f6.png) For just a clear approach to unlinking, RM’s online help (F1 function key) covers the basic default means of [Unlinking people](https://help.rootsmagic.com/RM11/unlinking-people.html) ---
**Author:** ![Jasper2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9d8465/32.png) [@Jasper2](https://community.rootsmagic.com/u/Jasper2)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2026, 10:12am UTC](https://community.rootsmagic.com/t/how-unlink-from-parents-works/15493/12 "2026-03-06T10:12:41Z")
It’s true, I didn’t see that this issue had already been addressed. I just wanted to know if it’s okay to add the children to their new mother before removing their links to their mother, so that they don’t get “lost in the wild”? This would mean that a child could have several mothers, which I think would be logical since there doesn’t seem to be a concept of biological links in RM ---
**Author:** ![nkess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b3f665/32.png) [@nkess](https://community.rootsmagic.com/u/nkess)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2026, 6:02pm UTC](https://community.rootsmagic.com/t/how-unlink-from-parents-works/15493/13 "2026-03-06T18:02:47Z")
Sorry Jasper–we should have told you that also-- I do it either way but everybody says you should attach the child to the new parents and then UNLINK him from the old parents if that is what you want–if you prefer, the child can be attached to several mothers at the same time and you can even mark the other mother as a Step-Mom BUT RM does NOT r recognize a step-parent relationship ( or adopted etc), so when you run a report, it will show the child as the son of the step-mom instead of stepson-- it also means that a kinship report will show all the step mom’s ancestor as the child’s ancestor-- so instead of 2 sets of grandparents, the child has 3 plus a whole bunch more aunts/ uncles etc…