Family roles & permissions

A memorial is built by everyone who loved the person — but the family stays in control. Here's what each role can see and do, so you know exactly what you're granting when you invite someone.

Owner

The keeper of the memorial

The person who created the memorial. There is one owner, and they hold final say.

Sees everything, including private drafts.
Publishes, unpublishes, and sets who can see the memorial.
Reviews and approves every contribution before it appears.
Invites and removes family members and sets their roles.
Manages preservation, exports everything, and can delete the memorial.

Editor

A trusted co-steward

A close family member who helps shape the memorial alongside the owner.

Adds and edits stories, photos, and timeline events.
Helps review contributions from others.
Cannot delete the memorial or change the owner.

Contributor

Everyone who has something to add

The sister with the recipe, the grandson with the fishing story. Most invited family are contributors.

Adds their own stories and photos.
Their contributions are reviewed by the owner before appearing.
Cannot edit others' contributions or change memorial settings.

Viewer

Invited to see, not to edit

Family or friends you want to include privately without asking them to add anything.

Can view the memorial, including private ones they're invited to.
Cannot add or change anything.

Who can see a memorial

Roles decide what invited people can do. Visibility decides who can see it at all — private (only you and those you invite), unlisted (anyone with the link), or public. See our Preservation Promise for how visibility and ownership work together.

Questions about sharing a memorial with your family? We're here to help.