Can an admin take ownership of a Facebook page?

Taking over a Facebook page as an admin can be done, but it requires following Facebook’s policies and processes. The original page creator maintains full control and ownership of their page unless they voluntarily give up admin access or have their page removed for violations. However, there are some steps an admin can take to try and gain more control of a page if the original owner is inactive or unresponsive.

Can an admin become the owner of a Facebook page?

No, admins cannot directly become owners of a Facebook page they did not create. The original page creator always retains ownership rights and the ability to remove other admins. However, if a page owner adds an admin and then becomes completely inactive on Facebook, there are ways for that admin to request full control of the page following Facebook’s processes.

How Facebook page ownership works

When a Facebook page is created, the person who created it is automatically listed as the page owner. They have full admin access and cannot be removed by any other admins they add to help manage the page. The page owner can voluntarily add or remove other admins at any time. They also maintain the ability to delete the page or transfer ownership to someone else if desired.

Admins can help with content posting and page moderation, but they do not have the same full access and ownership abilities as the original page creator. If a page owner adds an admin but then becomes inactive or unreachable, that admin is limited in what they can control on their own.

Steps for an admin to try and take over a page

If a page owner disappears or becomes unresponsive, an admin does not automatically gain control or ownership of that page. However, there are some steps an active admin can take in an attempt to legally gain more control:

Message the page owner requesting full ownership. The owner may voluntarily transfer it if contacted.

Report the page as “Abandoned” and submit a request to Facebook for ownership. This can work if the owner is inactive for an extended period.
Post on the page asking the owner to contact you. Public pressure may lead to a response.
Change page roles to try and limit the owner’s admin abilities. This is temporary but can buy some time.

Following Facebook’s policies is important during this process to avoid content or account restrictions. There are no guarantees these steps will work, but they provide the best chance for an admin to legally take over a page with an inactive owner.

Can you claim ownership of a business page you work for?

You cannot directly claim full ownership of a Facebook business page if you did not create it, even if you actively manage the page for your employer. The page owner and original creator maintain control. However, as an active admin you do have some options:

Ways a business admin can try to take over a page

Ask your employer to be made the official page owner if they are no longer using it.

Provide proof to Facebook through business records that you are authorized to manage the page if the original owner cannot be reached.
Create a new page representing the business if the original is abandoned and build up followers again.
Change admin roles to restrict inactive owners while requesting full access from Facebook.

Business pages often have multiple admins, but there can only be one owner. Following the proper channels to request ownership from your employer or Facebook is important to gain legitimate control.

Tips for business admins

Maintain open communication with your employer so you are both on the same page for admin access and responsibilities.
Keep detailed records of your posting and management of the page over time to support ownership claims.

Encourage your employer to list you as a backup admin in Business Manager to facilitate access.
Know Facebook’s policies and processes for reporting abandoned pages and requesting ownership.

While full control of a business page may seem complicated for an admin, following Facebook’s guidelines can help navigate the situation.

What if you are the only admin on a Facebook page?

If you are the only admin actively managing a Facebook page, you still do not automatically have full ownership rights – the original page creator remains in control. However, being the sole admin can allow you to take steps to gain more control:

Options for a sole active admin

Message the page owner explaining you are the only admin and requesting they add another or transfer ownership.
Change page roles and settings to restrict an inactive owner while you manage daily posting.

Report the page as abandoned after an extended period of inactivity from the owner and request ownership from Facebook.
Download a copy of the page data and content in case a full takeover does not work out.

As the only active admin, you have a strong case for gaining more control or ownership. But it still relies on action (or inaction) from the original owner in most cases. Patience and following Facebook policies are key.

Risks of being the sole admin

Full responsibility for managing content and responding to users.
Technical issues or access problems can’t be handled if the owner is unresponsive.
Ownership requests may be ignored without other admins to help apply pressure.

Sudden loss of admin access if the owner returns and disagrees with how you have managed the page.

Being the sole active admin can be frustrating, so weighing the challenges and benefits is important before taking it on.

How to legally take over a Facebook page as admin?

Legally taking over a Facebook page completely as an admin can be difficult, but here are tips on the process:

Ways for an admin to legally take over a page

Get written consent from the original owner via message or email voluntarily granting you ownership.
Provide Facebook with business records, trademarks, or other documentation that legally establish you as the authorized representative if the original owner cannot be reached.
Have the original owner formally delete the page and immediately recreate it under your ownership if they are unwilling to transfer it.

Acquire formal legal ownership of any businesses or brands associated with the page so you can claim the rights to administer it.

Without the original owner voluntarily transferring control or being able to legally prove your right to the page through trademarks and such, takeover options are limited. But formal consent, proper documentation, and following Facebook policies can help.

Actions to avoid

Hacking or gaining unauthorized access to the page – this can lead to criminal charges.

Reporting the page for minor policy violations in hopes of getting it shut down.
Making ownership claims that cannot be formally proven if disputed.
Restricting the original owner’s access or rights without proper documentation.

Legally taking over a page requires patience and relying on the owner or Facebook to validate your requests. Unethical actions often backfire in the long run.

Can you take over a deceased owner’s Facebook page?

Taking over a deceased owner’s Facebook page is possible, but you must provide documentation proving you have the legal right to manage their account and memorialize their page. The process involves:

Steps to manage a deceased owner’s page

Submit proof of death such as an obituary or death certificate to Facebook.

Provide documentation establishing your authority to manage the account such as a will or court order.
Request Facebook memorialize the page and appoint you a legacy contact with admin access.
Post updates letting followers know the owner has passed and the page is being memorialized.

Facebook has special procedures for memorialized accounts of deceased users. The key is providing valid legal documentation that shows you have the right to manage that person’s account and page after they have passed away.

What you can do as legacy contact

Write pinned posts to notify followers that the owner has died.
Change the page title and profile photo to indicate it is memorialized.

Respond to new comments with context that the owner has passed.
Remove tags of the deceased before posting new updates.

Memorialized pages have limited functionality, but admins can keep followers informed. Handle the situation sensitively and according to the owner’s wishes if known.

How to take over a Facebook group as an admin?

As a group admin, you cannot directly assume ownership of a Facebook group you did not create. But if the original group admin adds you, there are some options to try and take over the group:

Possible steps to take over a group as admin

Message the owner politely asking them to add additional admins or make you the primary admin.
Comment on group posts to politely ask the owner to contact you about admin roles.

If the owner is inactive for a long period, report the group as abandoned and request leadership through Facebook.
As a last resort, create a new group and invite members, since inactive groups often lose followers.

Group admins cannot forcefully remove the owner or assume full control. Maintaining positive relations and using Facebook processes offer the best chance of success.

Limitations to be aware of

The group creator can always delete posts or comments made by other admins.
Only the owner can appoint new admins or remove current admins.
Admins cannot access insights or member information the way the owner can.

If removed as admin, you immediately lose all capabilities to manage the group.

Admin capabilities are limited by design on Facebook groups. But friendly and patient negotiation with owners can help improve your access over time in many cases.

How can you get ownership of a hacked Facebook page?

Reclaiming ownership of a hacked Facebook page requires reporting the hack officially and providing verification to Facebook that you are the legitimate owner. Key steps include:

Regaining control of a hacked page

Use a separate personal account to report the hacked page to Facebook immediately after you lose access.
Provide proof of original ownership such as older admin IDs, page creation details, screenshots showing you as the creator, or advertising receipts.
Submit copies of business licenses, trademarks, or other documentation proving your sole rights to the brands on the page.

Temporarily block the page through your personal account’s security settings to limit content posting until access is restored.

Hacked pages can be difficult to recover, but quick action along with records, trademarks, and other verifiable information demonstrating clear ownership are key in convincing Facebook to restore access and remove the hacker.

Precautions once a page is recovered

Change all login credentials and remove any unknown admins.

Set up two-factor authentication for added security.
Frequently backup page data such as posts and followers lists in case of future hacks.
Consider starting fresh with a new page and redirecting your audience if hacks persist.

Prevention is the best long-term solution, as hacked pages often remain vulnerable. Taking security precautions and planning backup options can help limit future risk and disruption.

Conclusion

While admins cannot directly assume full ownership of a Facebook page they did not create, there are steps within Facebook’s policies that may allow taking over a page under specific conditions. This includes the original owner voluntarily transferring control, providing legal proof of rights to the business or brands on the page, or reporting an inactive or deceased owner to Facebook. Following proper procedures, maintaining positive admin relations, and avoiding unethical actions offer the best chance to gain more control of a page as an admin over time when necessary.