Working with Couples

When you add a new name to a new or existing household or organization, you can add a single person or a couple. There may be times when you wish to create a couple from two existing single individuals or you may wish to break an existing couple, removing any reference to the couple name and attributes, leaving two single individual names.

How to create a couple from two individual names

To create a couple from two individual names, both names must be in the same household or organization. If they are not, use the Move People button to move them into the same entity.

To create a couple, do the following steps:

1. Look up the household or organization with the names of the couple.
2. From the Profile tab, click on the Edit button.
3. Select the Names tab from the Edit screen.
4. From the list of names, select the two names to make into a couple. These names must be individual names that are not already part of a couple.
5. Click on the icon at the top of the name list that shows two heads with a plus sign.
   1. A new window opens where you can select the display name and other attributes for the couple.
6. Select which name is person 1 and which name is person 2. This is used to build the display name and salutation.
7. Select the preferred display name and salutation for the couple.
8. If this couple is now the primary name for the household or organization, check the Primary box.
9. If gifts from this couple should be anonymous, check the Make Gifts Anonymous box.
10. Add any notes about the couple.
11. Click on Save.
12. If you have additional information to add about the couple, such as tags, select the couple name from the list of names and add any additional details.
13. Click on Save to save the additional information.
14. If you wish the household name to reflect the new couple name, click on Step 2 - Attributes. Select the household name you wish to use, update any additional household attributes, and click on Save.

How to break a couple into two separate names

Couple names are created from two individual names. If you wish to remove the couple name and its attributes, you can do so. If there are gifts and other records associated with the couple, you have to decide which individual name to assign those to.

To break apart a couple, do the following:

1. Look up the household or organization with the name of the couple.
2. From the Profile tab, click on the Edit button.
3. Select the Names tab from the Edit screen.
4. From the list of names, select the couple name by clicking on the check box next to the name.
5. Click on the icon at the top of the name list that shows two heads with a minus sign.
6. If you are sure you want to proceed, click on Yes.
7. If the couple name is the primary name in the household, you must pick one of the two individuals to become the primary name.
8. If there are gifts or other items attached to the couple name, you must decide which individual to assign those items to.
9. Click on Go to split the couple.
   1. After the couple has been split, the two names appear in the list of names as individuals, but the couple name is no longer in the list.
   2. If you wish to move one person completely out of the household, use the Move People button.