Lost Domain Name

  • Unknown's avatar
    mercedesallen2 · Member ·

    Hi, I am trying to find an answer to a problem for a client. A friend had made her a website without asking her and she had employed me to create another site. The problem is that the original site has been closed down and the domain name still says unavailable. Does it take time for the name to become available? Does it happen instantly? Or could the name be still belong to the site even if it has closed down? Any help would be greatly appreciated, Thank you

  • kokkieh · Staff ·

    Hi there,

    Domain names are registered for a year at a time, and belong to the individual who registers it. Even if the site has since been taken offline, the person who registered the domain might still own it.

    And even if they also cancelled the domain, it can take months, or in some cases years, before the domain will become available for purchase again. This depends on several factors, including the process and policy at the domain provider where the domain is registered, whether or not the domain is already on back-order somewhere else, and whether or not the registry that controls the domain extension wants to release it – registries have the option to simply not released a cancelled domain should they so choose, in which case it won’t become available again even though it no longer belongs to anyone.

    If your client still has contact with the person who registered the domain, the best option would be for her to contact that person and ask if they’re willing to transfer/sell the domain to her directly. Else you can also try reaching out to the domain provider where the domain is registered.

  • Unknown's avatar
    mercedesallen2 · Member ·

    Hey there, Thank you for your reply.

    I received an email form my client. She is in contact with the person who owns the domain. She has said that she needs to know the name of my server so she know where to direct it. I don’t know what this means.

    Also I think it best if my client owns the name so she has total control. How does she go about getting a server for the transfer? She would like to make her site in wordpress does that help?

    Thank you,

    Mercedes

  • kokkieh · Staff ·

    She has said that she needs to know the name of my server so she know where to direct it. I don’t know what this means.

    So it sounds like they just want to point the domain by changing name servers. That info you’ll have to get from your hosting provider where you’re building the new site.

    If you’re planning to build it on WordPress.com, you’ll need a paid plan so you can add our domain mapping upgrade to connect the domain here. Details on that, including the name servers to use, can be found here:

    https://en.support.wordpress.com/map-existing-domain/

    Also I think it best if my client owns the name so she has total control. How does she go about getting a server for the transfer?

    I agree if your client owns the domain that would be better. There are two ways to go about that:

    1) Your client can open their own account at the domain provider where the domain is currently registered. Then the current owner of the domain can follow that provider’s steps to transfer ownership of the domain to their account.

    2) They can transfer the domain directly to the provider where the site you’re building is hosted. To do that the current owner of the domain will have to unlock the domain at the current provider, and request a domain transfer code from then (also called the auth code or EPP code).

    If they then provide that to your client, she’ll be able to initiate a domain transfer at any provider she wants. The exact steps would depend on what domain provider you’ll be using. In transferring the domain to a new provider your client will then also become the owner of the domain.

    She would like to make her site in wordpress does that help?

    “WordPress” can mean two things. If you’re planning to use the open source WordPress software, you’ll need to get hosting for that software at a hosting provider like Bluehost or Pressable. In that case I’d recommend transferring the domain to that same provider (though some, like Pressable, don’t offer domain registration services, so in that case you’d need to take option 1 for transferring ownership of the domain.

    If you specifically want to build the site here with us on WordPress.com, you’ll first need to create a site at https://wordpress.com/start/site/ (or have your client do it from her account), and upgrade it to our Personal Plan or higher. Then the owner of the plan will be able to start the domain transfer as explained here:

    http://en.support.wordpress.com/move-domain/incoming-domain-transfer/

  • Unknown's avatar
    mercedesallen2 · Member ·

    Hi,

    Thanks again. One more question. The name is held in Dream Host. Is this one OK to use in wordpress?

    Mercedes

  • Unknown's avatar
    gemmacevans · Member ·

    Hi Mercedes,

    Yes, that’s fine. Dreamhost provide the option to change name servers and point the domain to another host. I think that is what you mean’t but let me know if I’ve misunderstood at all.

  • Unknown's avatar
    mercedesallen2 · Member ·

    Thanks Gemma,

    Yes that is exactly what I meant : )

  • staff-blorbo · Staff ·

    Excellent, then yes you could map the DreamHost-registered domain to your WordPress.com site following this guide: https://en.support.wordpress.com/domains/map-existing-domain/

  • Unknown's avatar
    mercedesallen2 · Member ·

    Oh that’s so great. Thank you. You’ve all been very helpful.

    I will be in touch if I run into any more problems.

    Have a great day : )

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