* Unmarried couple - relationship dates

[Peter Collier]

I have an unmarried couple in my tree. They are linked to each other as spouses with the status of "unmarried couple". There is no marriage event.

The couple have been together since 1994. Obviously, I don't want to create a marriage event, but is there something else this date can be entered against? Otherwise one cannot tell if the couple have been together for two decades or two minutes. Likewise, you get the rather vague 'at some point X met Y' sentence in reports.

[tatewise]

You could use one of the other standard Family facts such as Engagement or Marriage Contract and adjust the wording of the Sentence to suit their situation.

Alternatively, you could use the standard Residence fact for the man and add his spouse as a Witness with the Resident role, as illustrated in the Family Historian Sample Project for Ian Stephen MUNRO and Charlotte CARRINGTON (and their children). Although, this is not as portable to other products as standard or custom facts.

Otherwise, you will have to create a custom Family fact such as Liaison or Relationship.

[jimlad68]

I give the couple a marriage fact, but for the date use a "date phrase' of NOT MARRIED or PARTNER or whatever seems appropriate with interpreted as Date. That makes it obvious there was no marriage but applies an approximate date for timeline purposes. Then add a note with any extra info. I think (I hope) is is also standard Gedcom, so should be exportable.