# How do you decide which "subfam" unmarried partners are assigned to?

**URL:** <https://forum.ipums.org/t/how-do-you-decide-which-subfam-unmarried-partners-are-assigned-to/2642>\
**Category:** USA\
**Created:** [October 29, 2018, 10:45pm UTC](https://forum.ipums.org/t/how-do-you-decide-which-subfam-unmarried-partners-are-assigned-to/2642 "2018-10-29T22:45:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![kls5734](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.ipums.org/kls5734/32/208_2.png) [@kls5734](https://forum.ipums.org/u/kls5734)\
**Post date:** [October 29, 2018, 10:45pm UTC](https://forum.ipums.org/t/how-do-you-decide-which-subfam-unmarried-partners-are-assigned-to/2642/1 "2018-10-29T22:45:00Z")

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Hi IPUMS!

Can you explain the rules for assigning unmarried partners to either a subfamily (subfam\>0) or not in a subfamily (subfam==0)? For example, in the 2016 ACS sample, there are 8,159 unmarried partners. 4,140 are in a subfamily (defined by subfam variable) and 4,019 are not in a subfamily. I’ve read through the subfamilies overview, and I still can’t seem to piece this together.

Thanks in advance for your time and assistance!

Kristin

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**Author:** ![JeffBloem](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.ipums.org/jeffbloem/32/40_2.png) [@JeffBloem](https://forum.ipums.org/u/JeffBloem)\
**Post date:** [October 30, 2018, 8:06pm UTC](https://forum.ipums.org/t/how-do-you-decide-which-subfam-unmarried-partners-are-assigned-to/2642/2 "2018-10-30T20:06:00Z")

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This is an error. These observations should not be considered subfamilies, since their spouse is the household head. If you email ipums@umn.edu with your mailing address we will send you your free coffee mug.