# Family Units

## Showing in the Directory

In order for a user to appear in the church directory, they must meet the following criteria:

* Belong to a group or role that [indicates membership](/core-concepts/users/account-membership.md).
* Must be one of:
  * **Be** the **head of household**.
  * **Belong to** a user that is head of household.

## Head of Household

The head of household role and checkbox are special - this is what creates a family unit.

Once someone is marked as the head of household, other users can "belong to" this user, which makes them a part of that family unit.

If someone is **not the head** of a household, and does **not belong to** a family unit, they are "orphaned" and will not show up in reports that center around family units (such as the Directory).

## Widows

In the case of widows, you will want to modify their family role to be the "head of household".  This will make them be a family unit and show up in the Directory.

## Other Situations

In the case of a wife who attends the congregation, and a husband who does not, you may want to opt to make the wife the "head of household", and make the husband have the family role of "spouse".  This will more closely identify with what members expect in terms of contact with church family.  

However, how you handle this is up to your congregation.


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