From: "miamibig" < > What is the best approach to the following situation. One or more children of a natural mother and father. The father dies. The mother remarries and her second husband adopts her children from the first marriage and the children then take the second husband's name. > This problem points up some of the limitations of Legacy that keep reappearing on this list.
1. When an individual's legal name is changed, rather than simply a nickname, there should be a mechanism to add that name to the name list. [Other examples besides adoption are married names and name changes at immigration.] I use the name list to find people and would like all legal variations to show up. This is different than AKA [also known as]. 2. Children who are adopted by persons within the same family tree will show up twice, as will their descendants, in all descent reports. There should be a mechanism that allows inclusion in both family views but allows the suppression of the descent report based on the adoption and permits it under the biological family [or a choice to check]. To answer your question: Under the current program, you have to chose which name is the main name. With an adopted child, in a similar situation, I chose the name the child used as an adult ;that most of his records will show] and then make a note under "birth notes" as to his birth name and also enter the name under AKA. Show the child under the first marriage and under the second marriage as a 1/2 child with a note indicating adoption by the step-father. Because genealogy is interested in the biological ancestry and family history is interested in the social relationship both connections should be recorded. Since your situation is common, Legacy should, in my opinion, figure out a more elegant accommodation. Joan Legacy User Group Etiquette guidelines can be found at: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Etiquette.asp To find past messages, please go to our searchable archives at: http://www.mail-archive.com/legacyusergroup%40mail.millenniacorp.com/ To unsubscribe please visit: http://www.legacyfamilytree.com/LegacyLists.asp
