---
title: "Update Not-a-Match Declaration"
method: POST
path: "/tree/persons/{pid}/not-a-match"
tags: ["Matches"]
---

# Update Not-a-Match Declaration

`POST /tree/persons/{pid}/not-a-match`

## Request

- Base URL: `https://apibeta.familysearch.org/platform`
- URL: `https://apibeta.familysearch.org/platform/tree/persons/{pid}/not-a-match`
- Auth: HTTP bearer

Add or edit a not-a-match declaration, indicating that the two referenced persons are separate and distinct individuals and should not be merged together. This operation will fail if there already exists a not-a-match declaration for the person(s).A reason string can be provided indicating why the user believes the two persons to be distinct individuals. The reason is sent as an 'X-Reason' value in the HTTP Headers on the request. This reason can have a maximum length of 2000 characters, and if the reason supplied is more than 2000 characters, the request will fail as an invalid request.

## Path parameters

- `pid` string, required

## Headers

- `Content-Type` 'application/x-fs-v1+json' | 'application/x-gedcomx-v1+json' | 'application/x-fs-v1+xml' | 'application/x-gedcomx-v1+xml', required
- `X-Reason` string

## Request body

- UpdatePersonNotAMatches: Gedcomx object containing person(s) to declare as not a match with the specified person
  - `persons` object[], required: Array of persons to declare as not a match. Each person represents someone who should NOT be merged with the primary person.
    - `id` string, required: The ID of the person to declare as not a match. Can be a person from the main FamilySearch tree or from a user tree. To find an example person ID, see <a href="/reference/searchtreepersons" target="_blank">Search Tree Persons</a>.
    - `attribution` object: Attribution information for the not-a-match declaration
      - `changeMessage` string: The reason for declaring the persons as not a match

## Response `204`

The update was successful.

## Other responses

- `404`: If the requested person is not found.
- `410`: If the requested person has been merged or deleted.
- `429`: The request was throttled.

---

[API](https://skmtc.dev/familysearch/apis/family-tree-endpoints.md) - [All operations](https://skmtc.dev/familysearch/apis/family-tree-endpoints/llms.txt) - [OpenAPI document](https://skmtc.dev/familysearch/apis/family-tree-endpoints/revisions/e248abd029e6?raw)