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How can cache ownership be transferred when a cache owner dies?


bjpremore

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Posted

A local geocacher with many caches close to where I live passed away recently.  I and other geocaching friends of hers would like to take ownership of her caches.  Is there a means for doing so?

 

Note that we can, of course, maintain them without ownership, but if coordinates need to be updated, maintenance flags cleared, etc., we will not be able to do so.

 

Thanks.

BJ

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Posted
13 minutes ago, bjpremore said:

A local geocacher with many caches close to where I live passed away recently.  I and other geocaching friends of hers would like to take ownership of her caches.  Is there a means for doing so?

 

Note that we can, of course, maintain them without ownership, but if coordinates need to be updated, maintenance flags cleared, etc., we will not be able to do so.

 

Thanks.

BJ

If the family adopts it to you, you can take ownership. 

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Posted (edited)
On 6/4/2024 at 10:33 AM, bjpremore said:

A local geocacher with many caches close to where I live passed away recently.  I and other geocaching friends of hers would like to take ownership of her caches.  Is there a means for doing so?

 

Note that we can, of course, maintain them without ownership, but if coordinates need to be updated, maintenance flags cleared, etc., we will not be able to do so.

 

Thanks.

BJ

There is no actual means for transferring caches after death, but if her family (or anyone) knows her password, they can pretend to be her and adopt them to you and/or others.  (I see that Keystone has corrected  me on this point.)

Edited by NanCycle
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Posted
2 hours ago, NanCycle said:

There is no actual means for transferring caches after death, but if her family (or anyone) knows her password, they can pretend to be her and adopt them to you and/or others.

Not quite true.  A family member of the deceased geocacher, or the representative of their estate, can write to Geocaching HQ with instructions on the disposition of the deceased geocacher's active geocaches.  Options include archiving the caches, adopting the active caches over to one or more other accounts, or any combination of the foregoing.

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Posted
23 hours ago, Keystone said:

Not quite true.  A family member of the deceased geocacher, or the representative of their estate, can write to Geocaching HQ with instructions on the disposition of the deceased geocacher's active geocaches.  Options include archiving the caches, adopting the active caches over to one or more other accounts, or any combination of the foregoing.

Thank you Keystone.  If you have any more details on this process, that would be great.  Such as, is an email good enough, or should a letter be mailed?  Does HQ require some proof of the family members relationship to the deceased?

 

BJ

Posted

Begin the process with an email from a family member or authorized representative of the decedent's estate.  Use the Help Center (if the writer has a geocaching account) or the general contact email address (contact @ geocaching.com) if not emailing from a geocaching account.  Geocaching HQ will confirm the validity of the inquirer, so the more details, the better.  At a minimum, include the real name and geocaching account name of the deceased, the relationship of the writer to the decedent, and some verification of the decedent's passing, such as a link to an obituary or memorial webpage.

 

There is no hurry to start this process.  Disposition of cache page ownership is priority #867 on the to-do list when the family is grieving.  It's fine to wait weeks or months.

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Posted
12 hours ago, Keystone said:

Begin the process with an email from a family member or authorized representative of the decedent's estate.  Use the Help Center (if the writer has a geocaching account) or the general contact email address (contact @ geocaching.com) if not emailing from a geocaching account.  Geocaching HQ will confirm the validity of the inquirer, so the more details, the better.  At a minimum, include the real name and geocaching account name of the deceased, the relationship of the writer to the decedent, and some verification of the decedent's passing, such as a link to an obituary or memorial webpage.

 

There is no hurry to start this process.  Disposition of cache page ownership is priority #867 on the to-do list when the family is grieving.  It's fine to wait weeks or months.

These details are extremely helpful, thank you so much.  And indeed, we have waited a few months and are in no hurry.  We want to respect the family's space as much as possible.

 

BJ

Posted

I was just wondering about this. My BFF will handle my affairs if I croak tomorrow. She isn't a cacher at heart but caches with me at times and understands the game. But I need to tell her what to do in case that chariot swings low unexpectedly. I'd like my caches to continue if possible. They would be easy to maintain as they are all in one area. But how do you find someone to adopt your caches? Contact the local Association? It would be ok to archive them I guess since many cachers don't like long-term caches. 

Posted
10 hours ago, PlantAKiss said:

I was just wondering about this. My BFF will handle my affairs if I croak tomorrow. She isn't a cacher at heart but caches with me at times and understands the game. But I need to tell her what to do in case that chariot swings low unexpectedly. I'd like my caches to continue if possible. They would be easy to maintain as they are all in one area. But how do you find someone to adopt your caches? Contact the local Association? It would be ok to archive them I guess since many cachers don't like long-term caches. 

This cacher has written his "Geocaching Will" on his profile page, outlining what he would like to happen to his caches if the worst happens, but the cachers that he has nominated as adopters  are most likely personally known to him and not just some random group he's thought up.

Posted

Meeting other cachers is one benefit of attending local events. If you don’t have events in your area you could host an event with an explanation that the goal is to meet other cachers.

 

Those of us who host events would love to discuss the process.

Posted

There are events here. I just don't go. :-) I'm not really a group person generally speaking (except for a rock club). Cachers I have met and or communicated with have been very nice!

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