Access Domain

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  reberiii · Member · Dec 17, 2021 at 3:57 pm

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  Hello! We are in the process of launching a new website for a local business, and their current site is a free wordpress site with a domain registered through wordpress as well. They have lost contact with the original developer who registered the domain name. How can we go about recovering access to the domain so that we may alter the DNS/migrate the domain to another registrar? Thank you!

  Correct account: Yes

  The blog I need help with is: (visible only to logged in users)

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  supernovia · Staff · Dec 17, 2021 at 5:59 pm

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  Hi there! Generally, whoever is paying for the domain will have control over it. The domain you mentioned isn’t registered here — can you send a link to the domain?

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  reberiii · Member · Dec 17, 2021 at 6:59 pm

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  First, thank you so much for your help! Second, I’m sorry — I checked the box that I needed help with another domain, didn’t realize it would post that link here – that’s to a completely different project.

  The domain I need assistance with is gracehousepa.com I can see from a WHOIS lookup that it’s registered until August 2022, and that it might have even been paid for in 2021. However, the person who purchased the domain (and might be renewing it) is no longer in contact with the actual business or the owners there.

  Any assistance you can give in gaining control of that domain for the business would be very appreciated. Thanks!

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  staff-blorbo · Staff · Dec 17, 2021 at 7:29 pm

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  Ok, only the domain’s owner can alter its DNS records.

  The best option would be to ask them to transfer ownership of the domain and site to you by following the steps at https://wordpress.com/support/transferring-a-site-to-another-wordpress-com-account/

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  reberiii · Member · Dec 17, 2021 at 7:55 pm

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  Thank you for your response! But there lies the problem with this domain — we no longer have contact with the person who is currently the domain’s owner, meaning we cannot ask for them to assist with the transfer of ownership.

  I know with other registrars it is possible to dispute domain ownership, or initiate a transfer request without first having to contact the current owner. Is something like that available here with WordPress domains, or do we just have to bite the bullet and launch a new site under a new domain?

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  staff-blorbo · Staff · Dec 17, 2021 at 7:59 pm

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  Please send an email to passwordhelp@wordpress.com explaining the situation, and we’ll see if there’s anything we can do for you.

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  reberiii · Member · Dec 18, 2021 at 4:41 pm

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  Thank you and sent! I will report back here if I learn more about the process of recovering access to the domain.