I believe that Find A Grave is a work site that is continually progressing. We can help others with their research by completing the memorials that we manage through researching each individual and adding as much information to their memorial as we can. This includes adding their spouses, parents and siblings, connecting their children to them, adding an obituary and photos, and indicating veteran status if applicable, etc. There is great satisfaction to be experienced by updating each memorial as completely and accurately as we can. Managing memorials is a vital ongoing work in progress. Our diligence in providing accurate data to the memorials that we manage is important to other researchers. It is also a work that we, as memorial managers, should be willing to invest our time and energy in. Our efforts to ensure accuracy will maintain the integrity of Find A Grave.

I spend hours upon hours walking cemeteries and checking headstones to make sure that each person has a Find A Grave memorial. If they don't have one, I create one and also add GPS coordinates and headstone photos. In this endeavor, I am constantly adding new memorials to these cemeteries. I also continually add memorials for my relatives and cherished friends. Because this is time consuming volunteer work, I politely ask you to carefully consider your reasons before you ask me to transfer a memorial to you. Did you know that can add photos to memorials yourself, and you can also suggest edits to me if there is erroneous information or additional facts that need to be added?

Please consider creating your personal Find A Grave virtual cemetery where you can save your ancestor's memorials rather than asking for a transfer.

I follow these Find A Grave guidelines when a transfer is requested:

• With millions of members, there will be many overlapping family trees and it would be impossible for all members to manage their entire tree. Determine if you really need the memorial transferred to you for management. You can add photos and suggest corrections without managing a memorial.

• Always explain your relationship in the request! Keep in mind that the memorial manager may also be related to the memorial and may not make the transfer. You may also want to include your specific interest in the memorial.

• Memorials are transferred for relatives with these close relationships: child, spouse/partner, sibling, parent, grandchild, great-grandchild, grandparent, great-grandparent, niece/nephew, great-niece/nephew, aunt/uncle, great-aunt/uncle, or first cousin. This would include adoptive, step and in-law versions of these relationships.

Thank you!