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Error 'Your attempt to delete record name could not be completed because it is associated with the following leads'

Publish Date: Aug 1, 2024
Description

Upon trying to delete a contact, a system administrator may receive this error message:

"Your attempt to delete [record name] could not be completed because it is associated with the following leads. If the following table is empty, it's because you don't have access to the records restricting the delete."

This message would be followed by an empty table.

As the user is a system administrator, he/she would have access to all Lead records - except those which are converted. This issue is therefore caused if there is a custom Lookup relationship on Leads with Contacts, and is set so that if you pick contact XYZ in that field on Leads, then contact XYZ will not be able to be deleted.  

Attempts to delete this contact would be met with the same error message, but the table would be populated with the lead.  That is, unless the lead is converted, in which there is limited access to it and therefore does not populate the table.
Resolution
 

In Salesforce Classic

1. Delete the converted lead. (needs Data Loader, API, or Mass Delete function).
2. Change the lookup to a null value (or something else, as desired) - this requires either the API or Data Loader.
3. Go to Setup | Customize | Leads | Fields | Lead Custom Fields & Relationships
4. Edit the Contact lookup field
5. Under Lookup options | Select Clear the value of this field. You can't choose this option if you make this field required.

In Lightning Experience

1. Click Setup.
2. Under Platform Tools, click drop-down "Object and Fields."
3. Go to Object Manager | Lead | Fields and Relationship 
4. Click Contact custom lookup field
5. Edit the field
6. Under Lookup options, select Clear the value of this field. You can't choose this option if you make this field required.
7. Then delete the Contact and change it back to "Don't Allow Deletion" (if desired).  This option doesn’t allow the lookup record to be deleted if you have dependencies built on the lookup relationship, such as a workflow rule.


 
Knowledge Article Number

000382752

 
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Salesforce Help | Article