The data on the whois record is the definitive record of who owns and controls the domain, so making a change to this information is an important matter. Once the changes are made, they can only be changed again with the cooperation of the new owner and/or admin contact, so it is vitally important to have this information correct before committing any changes. Before changing the whois record you will want to double check all information, particularly the names and email addresses.

Email addresses are the most common method used to contact people regarding domain business and the confirmation of changes. Because of that, an error here can create problems with the confirmation process for any future changes regarding the domain, and in some circumstances can be hard to correct. The name of the person or company owning the domain is equally important, since if there is any question as to authorization verrification by that person will be required. If the wrong person is named or the name is incorrect in some detail, this will become a difficult task.

Also important is being clear as to whether an individual or company is taking over ownership of the domain. While under ideal conditions ownership can be transferred by logging into a member interface and changing values, sometimes there are complications which require documents or other authorization. What must be done in these cases will depend on whether the domain is owned by an individual or an organisation.