---
title: "Archive a family when they leave"
description: "Archive a family to remove them from active lists while keeping their records. You can restore them later."
type: guide
updated: 2026-09-14
canonical_url: https://help.nestlicare.com/owners/families/archive-a-family
roles: ["super_admin", "center_admin"]
platforms: [web]
---
When a family leaves, you **archive** them. That takes them out of your active lists while keeping their records, and you can restore them later if they come back.

## Archive a family

1. Go to **Families & Children → Families**.
2. On the family's card, click the **Archive family** icon in the card header.
3. Read the confirmation, then click **Archive Family**.

<ScreenshotWithPointers
  src="/screenshots/owners/families/archive-family-modal.png"
  alt="The Archive Family confirmation listing what archiving does"
  caption="Archiving spells out exactly what it will do before you confirm."
/>

The confirmation spells out exactly what archiving does for that family:

- Archives the parents and children
- Withdraws all active enrollments
- Cancels pending invitations
- Cancels active auto-pay authorizations

Invoices and payment records are kept. You can restore the family later, though their enrollments have to be recreated.

## Find and restore an archived family

The Families page has **Active** and **Archived** tabs. Switch to **Archived** to find a family you've archived, and restore them from there if they re-enroll. After restoring, set up their room enrollment again (archiving withdrew it).

## Archive a single child

Each child card also has its own **Archive child** control with a similar confirmation, for when one child leaves but the family stays (an older sibling ages out, say).

<Callout kind="info" title="Archive, don't delete">
Archiving is the right move for almost every family that leaves: it's reversible and keeps your records for billing and licensing. Reach for a permanent delete only for a family created by mistake that never had any real activity.
</Callout>

## Troubleshooting

**I archived the wrong family.** Switch to the **Archived** tab, find them, and restore. Their records come back.

**A parent could still open the app briefly after I archived.** Their existing session ends shortly. Archiving cancels their access; they can't log back in.