Connecting and Correcting Relationships in Family Tree

Article Id: 24671
November 22, 2023

Connecting and Correcting Relationships in Tree Table of Contents

  1. Adding Relationships
    1. How do I add a parent in Family Tree?
    2. How do I indicate that a couple in Family Tree never had children?
    3. How do I add a child to Family Tree?
    4. How do I indicate that a person in Family Tree had no children or was never in a relationship?
    5. How do I add Other Relationships to Family Tree?
  2. Correcting Relationships
    1. How do I correct parent-child relationships in Family Tree?
    2. How do I set the preferred spouse or parents in Family Tree?
    3. My ancestor in Family Tree is connected to the same parent twice
    4. How do I edit Other Relationships in Family Tree?
    5. How do I remove Other Relationships from Family Tree?
    6. How do I restore a deleted relationship in Family Tree?
    7. The same child shows more than once in a family in Family Tree
  3. Blended Family Relationships
    1. How do I add step, adopted, and foster parents to a child in Family Tree?
    2. How do I specify biological, step, adopted, and foster relationships in Family Tree?
  4. Attaching Sources
    1. How do I attach a source to a parent-child relationship?
  5. Additional Information
    1. Same-sex relationships in FamilySearch: FAQ
    2. How do I delete a parent or child relationship in Family Tree using JAWS?
    3. What is the maximum number of Other Relationships a person can have in Family Tree?
  6. Related articles

Thematic Break

Adding Relationships

How do I add a parent in Family Tree?

One of the most direct ways to add parents is by linking them to a child already in your tree. You can also add parents directly from the First Ancestor view.

Steps (website)

Landscape, Portrait, Fan Chart, and Descendancy Views

  1. In the top menu, click Family Tree, and then click Tree.
  2. Find the child of the parent you want to add.
  3. Click the child's name. In the details that pop-up, click the child's name again. You will be taken to that person’s page.
  4. Click the Details tab.
  5. Scroll down to the Family Members section.
  6. Under Parents and Siblings, click Add Parent.
  7. Enter information about the parent, and click Next, which is available after you click Deceased. (If you know the ID of the parent, click By ID Number.)
  8. If Family Tree found people who match your search, it lists them. Indicate whether you need to add a matching person or create a new one:
    • If the person is already in Family Tree, click Add Match.
    • If the person is not in Family Tree, click Create Person.
    • To adjust your search, click Refine Search.

First Ancestor View

  1. While signed in to FamilySearch.org, click Family Tree, and then click Tree.
  2. Navigate to the child of the parent you want to add.
  3. Above the person's picture, click the + icon.
  4. Click Add Parent.
  5. Enter information about the parent, and click Next, which is available after you click Deceased. (If you know the ID of the parent, click By ID Number.)
  6. If Family Tree found people who match your search, it lists them. Indicate whether you need to add a matching person or create a new one:
    • If the person is already in Family Tree, click Add Match.
    • If the person is not in Family Tree, click Create Person.
    • To adjust your search, click Refine Search.

Steps (mobile app)

  1. In the Family Tree mobile app, navigate to the Person page of a child of a parent you want to add.
  2. Tap the Parents tab.
  3. Tap Add Parent.
  4. Enter information about the parent, and tap Continue. (If you know the ID, tap Add by ID or Find by ID.)
  5. Review the search results. If you find the right parent, tap Add Match.
  6. If you do not see the person in the search results, tap No Match.
  7. Review your entry, and tap Add or Add This Person to create a new record.

Steps (Family Tree Lite)

  1. While signed into Family Tree Lite, navigate to the Person page of a child of a parent you want to add.
  2. Click View Family.
  3. Under Parents and Siblings, click Add Parent or Add Another Parent.
  4. Enter information about the parent, and click Next. (If you know the ID of the parent, click Find By ID Number.)
  5. Review the search results. If you find the right parent, click Add Person. If you find both the mother and father, click Add Couple.
  6. If you do not see the person in the search results, click Create Person.

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How do I indicate that a couple in Family Tree never had children?

In Family Tree, couple relationships connect people who were married, who lived together, who had children together, or who otherwise considered themselves a couple.

Some couples never have children. In family history research, it takes time and effort to discover this fact. If you do, you can add the information to the couple's relationship and explain how you figured it out. This helps better record the couple's lives. It also can help prevent other Family Tree users from having to repeat your research.

Note: If you know that a couple lived together but never married, you can add that information as a marriage event. For more information on how to add and edit marriage information in Family Tree, see the links below.

Steps (website)

  1. While signed in to FamilySearch.org, navigate to the person page of the individual or spouse.
  2. If you do not see Vitals near the top of the page, click Details.
  3. In the Family Members section, click the Edit icon for the couple. It looks like a pencil inside of a square.
  4. Click Add Fact. The No Children fact is automatically selected.
  5. Enter a reason that explains how you know this is correct.
  6. Click Save.
  7. To correct or enhance the reason statement of the fact, follow these steps:
    1. Click the couple's Edit icon. 
    2. Click the Edit icon link under No Children.
    3. Explain how you know that this couple had children.
    4. Click Save.
  8. To delete the fact, follow these steps:
    1. Click the couple's Edit icon. 
    2. Click the Edit icon link under No Children.
    3. Explain how you know that this couple did have children.
    4. Click Delete.
    5. Enter your reason for deleting the fact.
    6. Click Delete Fact.
  9. If possible, attach relationship sources or enter relationship notes that provide evidence for the change you made.

Steps (mobile app)

  1. In the Family Tree mobile app, navigate to the Person page of the individual or spouse.
  2. Tap Spouses or Parents.
  3. Tap the couple's Edit icon next to the marriage date. It looks like a pencil inside of a circle.
  4. To add the fact, follow these steps:
    1. Tap Add Fact.
    2. Leave No Children selected, enter a reason that explains how you know this is correct.
    3. Tap Save.
  5.  To edit the reason statement for the relationship fact, follow these steps:
    1. For the marriage fact that you want to change, tap Edit. 
    2. Enter the updated reason statement.
    3. Tap Save.
  6. To delete the relationship fact, follow these steps:
    1. Tap Delete No Children. 
    2. Explain why you are deleting the fact.
    3. Tap Delete.

Family Tree Lite

In Family Tree Lite, you cannot add the No Children fact. As an alternative, you will need to use the web version of Family Tree or the mobile app for iOS and Android.

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How do I add a child to Family Tree?

One of the most direct ways to add a child into Family Tree is to link them to their parents.

Steps (website)

Landscape, Portrait, Fan Chart, and Descendancy Views

  1. In the top menu, click Family Tree, and then click Tree.
  2. Find the parent of the child you want to add.
  3. Click the parent's name. In the details that pop-up, click the parent's name again. You will be taken to that person’s page.
  4. Click the Details tab.
  5. Scroll down to the Family Members section.
  6. Under Spouses and Children, click Add Child. (If Add Child does not show, click the down arrow beside Children under the couple box.)
    • If one of the parents of the child is unknown, click Add Child with an Unknown Mother or Father. Add details in a note.
  7. Enter information about the child, and click Next. (If you know the ID of the child, click By ID Number.)
  8. Review the search results. If you find the right child, click Add Person.
  9. If you do not see the person in the search results, click Create New.

First Ancestor View

  1. Sign in to FamilySearch and click Family Tree, and then click Tree.
  2. Find the parent of the child you want to add.
  3. Click the + icon in the top right above their picture.
  4. Click Add Child.
  5. Enter information about the child, and click Next. (If you know the ID of the child, click By ID Number.)
  6. Review the search results. If you find the right child, click Add Person.
  7. If you do not see the person in the search results, click Create New.

Steps (mobile app)

  1. In the Family Tree mobile app, navigate to the Person page of one of the parents.
  2. Tap the Spouses tab.
  3. If you see more than one spouse, tap the down arrow next to the name of the appropriate spouse.
    • Currently, the mobile app has no option to add a child for a parent without a spouse. Visit the website for this option.
  4. Tap Add Child.
  5. Enter information about the child, and tap Continue. (If you know the ID of the child, tap Add by ID or Find by ID.)
  6. Indicate whether the individual is living or deceased, then tap Continue.
  7. Review the search results. If you find the right child, tap Add Match.
  8. If you do not see the person in the search results, tap No Match. 
  9. Review your entry, and tap Add or Add This Person.

Steps (Family Tree Lite)

  1. While signed in to Family Tree Lite, navigate to the Person page of one of the parents.
  2. Click View Family.
  3. Under Spouses and Children, under the appropriate spouse, click Add Child.
    • Family Tree Lite has no option to add a sibling without parents. Visit the full website for this option.
  4. Enter information about the child, and click Next. (If you know the ID of the child, click Find By ID Number.)
  5. Review the search results. If you find the right child, click Add Person.
  6. If you do not see the person in the search results, click Create Person.

Tips

Twins or multiple births

  • Add each as a separate individual. 
  • Do not add the word "twin" in the name. Instead, you can specify it in Other information, or the Notes section of the Person page for each individual.
  • Even if added in a particular order, the children can appear out of order. If two people show the same birth date, the system lists them alphabetically. You cannot change the order. 
  • If the twins died without names, enter only the last name with birth and death dates. To avoid a later merge of the apparent duplicate records, you can take these steps:
    • Create a note for each to explain the situation.
    • Check for possible duplicates, and mark the twins as Not a Match with a clear reason statement. 

Illegitimate children

  • You can link them to the biological parents individually, or as a couple.
  • Do not add any marriage information for the couple. Put relevant information in a note.
  • Currently, Family Tree provides five relationship types between parents and children: Adopted, Biological, Guardianship, Foster, and Step. The system assumes a biological relationship. You can specify a different relationship type for multiple sets of parents.

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How do I indicate that a person in Family Tree had no children or was never in a relationship?

In your family history, you can come across people who did not marry or have children. You can add these facts to that person's record in Family Tree and explain how you came to this conclusion. Your information helps prevent other Family Tree users from having to repeat your research.

Add couple relationship information in these circumstances:

  • You come across people who were in a couple relationship but had no children
  • People lived together instead of marrying.

Steps (website)

You have two options for documenting a person or couple who had no children. The first option is to click Add Fact under the Details tab. The second option is to click the Pencil icon to edit the Couple Relationship in the Family Member section.

Here are the steps for the Details tab option.

  1. In Family Tree on the FamilySearch website, navigate to the Person page for the individual.
  2. Select the Details tab.
  3. In the Other Information section, click Add Fact.
  4. Click one of the following options:
    • No Couple Relationships. Click this option if the person never married or was never in a couple relationship.
    • No Children. Click this option if the person never had children.
  5. Enter a clear explanation of how you know that the information is correct.
  6. Click Save.
  7. If both facts apply to this person, repeat steps 3 through 7 to add the other fact.
  8. To correct or enhance the reason statement of the fact, follow these steps:
    1. Click the Edit option for the fact.
    2. Make your additions or corrections to the reason statement.
    3. Click Save.
  9. To delete the fact, follow these steps:
    1. Click Delete.
    2. Enter the reason that you are deleting the information. 
    3. Click Delete.
  10. If possible, attach sources or enter notes that provide evidence for the change you made.

Here are the steps for editing the Couple Relationship.

  1. Go to Family Member section.
  2. Click Pencil icon.
  3. Click Add Fact under Relationship Facts.
  4. Review system warning message for No Children.
  5. Enter reason and source information.
  6. Click Save.

Steps (mobile app)

  1. In the Family Tree mobile app, navigate to the Person page for the individual.
  2. Select the Details tab.
  3. Tap the green circle in the bottom-right corner.
  4. On the list, tap one of the following options:
    • No Couple Relationships. Tap this option if the person never married or was never in a couple relationship.
    • No Children. Tap this option if the person never had children.
  5. Enter a clear explanation of how you know that the information is correct.
  6. Tap Save.
  7. If both facts apply to this person, repeat steps 3 through 6 to add the other fact.
  8. To correct a fact, use these steps:
    1. Tap Edit.
    2. Enter the correct information.
    3. Tap Continue.
    4. Enter how you know that the information you just entered is correct.
    5. Tap Save.
  9. You can delete a fact:
    1. Tap the fact.
    2. Tap the fact's delete option
    3. Enter how you know to delete the fact.
    4. Tap Delete.
  10. If possible, attach sources that provide evidence for the change you made.

Family Tree Lite

In Family Tree Lite, you can only edit vital information. The Other Information section is not available. Use the web version of Family Tree or the mobile app for iOS and Android.

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How do I add Other Relationships to Family Tree?

In Family Tree, you can add Other Relationships to connect individuals who were not family or whose family relationship cannot be identified.

Steps (website)

  1. In Family Tree, go to the person page of the individual with the relationship you want to add.  
  2. Click Details.  
  3. Scroll down to the Other Relationships section (near the bottom of the page).  
  4. Click + Add Other Relationship. 
  5. Click + Add Person. 
  6. In the drop-down menu, select the relationship type.  
  7. If the individuals are shown with the wrong roles, click the Switch icon . 
  8. Click Save. 
  9. Enter a reason statement to show why you know the changes are correct. This will help other users understand the change and discourage people from making inaccurate changes in the future.
  10. Click Save. 
  11. To add events, sources, and notes about this relationship, click the Edit icon . (Tip: We recommend adding the sources and notes to the person, in addition to the relationship. That makes them easier for other users to see.)

Steps (mobile app)

  1. In the Family Tree mobile app, display the person page that you want to enhance. 
  2. Tap Details. 
  3. Tap the plus sign in the circle at the bottom right. 
  4. Scroll down to the bottom of the list, and tap Other Relationship. 
  5. Tap to select the relationship type. 
  6. Tap + Add Person. 
  7. Enter information about the person, and tap Continue. (If you know the ID, tap Add by ID or Find by ID.) 
  8. Indicate whether the individual is living or deceased, and then tap Continue. 
  9. Review the search results. If you find the right person, tap Select. If you do not see the person in the search results, tap No Match. 
  10. If the individuals are shown with the wrong roles, click the Switch icon (insert icon). 
  11. Tap Save. 
  12. As needed, add events and notes about this relationship. 

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Correcting Relationships

How do I correct parent-child relationships in Family Tree?

Correcting parent-child relationships usually requires some analysis before you begin. Two kinds of problems can exist: duplicate records or incorrect relationship links.

If you make a mistake during this process, don’t worry. You can undo any changes you’ve made by going through the Latest Changes feature.

When you remove a child's record from a family's records, the child's record stays in Family Tree. If the child is linked to spouses and children, he or she remains linked to them. Similarly, when you remove parents from a relationship to a child, the Family Tree record for each parent remains in Family Tree.

Before you start

Take some time to figure out what is wrong:

  • If the child does not belong in the family, remove or replace the child's link to the parents. Keep reading this article to learn how.
  • If the children are right but one or both parents are wrong, you must remove or replace the incorrect parent. Remove or replace the spouse of the correct parent. 
  • If you see the parents and children multiple times, or in multiple families, look at the ID numbers of the duplicates.
    • If the ID numbers are different, merge the duplicate records. 
    • If the ID numbers are identical, the child is linked to one of the parents more than once. Use the instructions in this article to remove the extra relationship.

Tip: Write down the names and ID numbers of the people whose relationships you are changing. Now you can undo a change.

Steps (website)

Here are the steps for removing or replacing a child in a family using Family Tree on the FamilySearch.org website:

  1. In the top menu, click Family Tree, and then click Tree.
  2. Find the child with the incorrect parents.
  3. Click the person's name. In the details that pop-up, click the person's name again. You will be taken to that person’s page.
  4. Click the Details tab.
  5. Scroll to the Family Members section.
  6. Under Parents and Siblings, find the child's name, and click the Edit icon . 
  7. If only one parent is incorrect, click Remove or Replace next to the incorrect parent. If both are incorrect, click Remove or Replace next to the child.
  8. A Remove or Replace box appears. Verify relationships, sources, and notes, then click the check box.
  9. Do one of the following:
    1. To remove a parent or parents, click the appropriate Remove button. Explain why, and then click Remove.
    2. To replace a parent or parents, click the appropriate Replace button. The Replace Person screen appears.
      • If you know a parent's ID number, click By ID Number. Enter the ID number, and then click Next. Click Add Match.
        • If you want to add both parents, click Select Couple.
        • To add one parent, click Select Person. Explain your reason for the change, and then click Replace.
      • If you do not know a parent's ID number, complete the search fields, and then click Next.
        • If the correct person or couple appears in the list, click Add Match. If you want to add both parents, click Select Couple, To add one parent, click Select Person. Explain your reason for the change, and then click Replace.
        • If you see no match, click Create Person to create a parent record.

Steps (mobile app)

Here are the steps for removing or replacing a child in a family using the Family Tree mobile app:

  1. In the Family Tree mobile app, navigate to the Person page of the child with the incorrect parents.
  2. Tap the Parents tab.
  3. Find the child's name, and tap the pencil icon.
    1. If only one parent is incorrect, tap the drop-down arrow for the parent, and tap either Remove or Replace Father or Remove or Replace Mother.
    2. If both parents are incorrect, tap Remove Parents.
  4. A new window appears. 
    1. To remove a parent or parents, check the box stating that you have reviewed the relationships, and tap Continue. Explain why, and then tap Remove.
    2. To replace a parent, check the box stating that you have reviewed the relationships, and tap Replace. The Replace Person screen appears.
      • If you know a parent's ID, tap Add by ID. Enter the ID, and tap Continue. Tap Select. Explain why the information is correct, and then tap Replace.
      • If you do not know a parent's ID, complete the search fields, and then tap Continue.
        • If the correct person appears in the list, tap Select.  Explain the reason for your change, and tap Replace.
        • If the parent does not appear, No Match. Explain the reason for your change, and tap Replace.

Steps (Family Tree Lite)

Here are the steps for removing or replacing a child in a family using Family Tree Lite:

  1. Sign in to Family Tree Lite (lite.fs.org).
  2. Navigate to the Person page of the child with the incorrect parents.
  3. Under the individual's name, tap View Family.
  4. Under Parents and Siblings, find the child's name, and tap the Edit icon.
  5. If only one parent is incorrect, tap Remove or Replace under the name of the incorrect parent. If both are incorrect, tap Remove or Replace under the name of the child.
  6. Do one of the following:
    1. To remove a parent or parents, tap the appropriate Remove button. Enter a reason and tap Remove.
    2. To replace a parent or parents, tap the appropriate Replace button. The Replace Person screen appears.
      • If you know a parent's ID number, click Find by ID Number, enter the ID number, and then tap Next. (FamilySearch Lite does not add the hyphen into or capitalize the letters of the ID. Enter it manually) Tap Add Person or Add Couple.
      • If you do not know a parent's ID number, complete the search fields, and then tap Next. If the correct person or couple appears in the list, tap Add Person or Add Couple. Otherwise, to create a parent record, tap Create Person. 

Removing or changing the parent-child relationship does not remove or change the parents' couple relationship. If the mother or father is wrong, you must also remove or replace one of the spouses.

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How do I set the preferred spouse or parents in Family Tree?

In Family Tree, a person can have more than 1 spouse or set of parents. In this case, you can choose the preferred spouse or parents that you want to see on a pedigree view.

Here are the impacts of setting the preferred spouse or parents:

  • You see all spouses and parents on the person page.
  • You see only the preferred spouse and parents in pedigree views and on printed family group records. Only the preferred spouse's or parents' descendants and ancestors show.
  • Only you see your changes to the preferred spouse or parents. Other users can choose their own.
  • The preferred spouse or parents remain set until you change it.
  • Setting a preferred spouse or parents affects how Source Linker works. The Source Linker only aligns the preferred spouse and children of that couple.
  • The person page displays couples by marriage date. Setting the preferred parents does not affect the order in which the parents are shown on the child's person page.

Steps (website)

Landscape view

  1. In the top menu, click Family Tree, and then click Tree.
  2. In the top right corner of the tree screen, click the pedigree view, and then select Landscape.
  3. Find the person with multiple spouses or parents.
    • If you are choosing a preferred spouse, move the couple to the main position by clicking View Tree for the person with multiple spouses.
  4. To display the other spouses or parents, click the arrow.
    • To choose preferred spouses, use the down arrow beside the name of the spouse.
    • If you are choosing preferred parents, the arrow is located to the left of the box displaying the parents.
  5. Click the preferred spouse or parents.

Person page

  1. In the top menu, click Family Tree, and then click Tree.
  2. Find the person with multiple spouses or parents.
  3. Click the person's name. In the details that pop up, click the person's name again.
  4. Click the Details tab.
  5. Scroll to the top of the Family Members section.
  6. Click Set Preferred.
  7. In the pop-up box, if the person has multiple spouses and parents, select either the Preferred Spouse or Preferred Parents tab.
  8. Click the preferred spouses or parents.
  9. Click Save.

Steps (mobile app)

  1. In the Family Tree app, find and tap the name of the person with multiple spouses or parents.
  2. In the bar below the name, tap Spouses or Parents.
  3. To the right of your preferred spouse or parent, tap the small gray arrow.
  4. Next to Preferred Spouse or Preferred Parent, tap the circle.
  5. When you return to the tree, the preferred spouse or parent now shows.

Steps (Family Tree Lite)

Family Tree Lite does not allow you to select preferred spouses or parents.

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My ancestor in Family Tree is connected to the same parent twice

Learn about duplicate relationships in Family Tree between a child and a parent. To correct the error, delete the duplicate relationship.

In most cases, the correct relationship is the relationship that includes the names of both parents. The duplicate relationship, by contrast, often names only one parent. The other parent is labeled "unknown." Delete the relationship.

Before you start

When working with parent-child relationships, it can be helpful to write down the names, ID numbers, and relationships of the ancestors involved. Remember that you can use the list of recent changes to undo changes if you make a mistake.

Steps (website)

  1. In the top menu, click Family Tree, and then click Tree.
  2. Find the child with the duplicate relationship.
  3. Click the person's name. In the details that pop up, click the person's name again.
  4. Click the Details tab.
  5. Scroll to the Family Members section. Find the child under the parent with an unknown spouse. 
  6. Click the Edit icon .
  7. Underneath the child's name, click Remove or Replace.
  8. To indicate that you reviewed the relationships, sources, and notes for the individuals, click the check box.
  9. Click Remove Parents.
  10. Explain why, and then click Remove.
  11. Refresh the page. You no longer see the child and the single parent.​

Steps (mobile app)

  1. In the Family Tree mobile app, navigate to the Person page of the child with the duplicate relationship.
  2. Tap the Parents tab.
  3. Find the child's name, and tap the edit icon.
  4. Tap the duplicate parent.
  5. Tap Remove parent or Remove or Replace parent.
  6. Tap to confirm that you have reviewed the relationships, sources, and notes for these individuals, and tap Remove.
  7. Explain why, and then tap Remove again.
  8. When the process completes, you no longer see the child with the single parent.​

Steps (Family Tree Lite)

  1. While signed in to Family Tree Lite, navigate to the Person page of the child with the incorrect parents.
  2. Under the individual's name, click View Family.
  3. Under Parents and Siblings, find the child's name, and click the Edit icon.
  4. To remove both parents, click Remove or Replace next to the child.
  5. Check to confirm that you have reviewed the relationships, sources, and notes for these individuals, and click Remove.
  6. Explain why, and then click Remove.
  7. Refresh the page. You no longer see the child and the single parent.​

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How do I edit Other Relationships in Family Tree?

You can edit Other Relationships by clicking the edit icon next to the relationship on the person page.

When you edit an Other Relationship, you can do the following tasks:

  • Switch roles within the relationship. 
  • Remove or replace the other person. 
  • Add reason statements. 
  • Edit and add events, sources, and notes. 
  • View all changes made to this relationship. 
  • Delete the relationship. 

Before you start

Please be sure to review any sources, notes, discussions, and reason statements that have already been added about this relationship. Sources can be found on the sources tab of a person’s page, or they can be linked to relationships themselves. To see specific relationship sources, open a relationship edit menu.

Steps (website)

  1. In Family Tree, go to the person page of the individual with the relationship you want to edit.  
  2. Click Details. 
  3. Scroll down to the Other Relationships section (near the bottom of the page).  
  4. Find the relationship you want to edit.  
  5. Click the Edit icon . 
  6. A pop-up menu appears.
  7. Make your changes.
  8. Enter a reason statement to show why you know the changes are correct. This will help other users understand the change and discourage people from making inaccurate changes in the future.  
  9. Click Save.  

Steps (mobile app)

Note: The mobile app does not allow you to add sources to Other Relationships. To add sources, use the website.

  1. In the Family Tree mobile app, display the person page that you want to enhance. 
  2. Tap Details. 
  3. Scroll down to the Other Relationships section. 
  4. Find the relationship you want to edit.  
  5. Tap the Edit icon . 
  6. Make your changes. 
  7. Tap Save.  

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How do I remove Other Relationships from Family Tree?

You can remove Other Relationships by going to the Details section of the person page. Removing Other Relationships can always be reversed if it was a mistake.

Before you start

Removing other relationships is typically done when the relationship is a duplicate or never existed. Before you remove the relationship from Family Tree, please be sure to review the sources, notes, discussions, and reason statements. Sources can be found on the sources tab of a person’s page, or they can be linked to relationships themselves. To see specific relationship sources, open a relationship edit menu.

Steps (website)

  1. In Family Tree, go to the person page of the individual with the relationship you want to delete.  
  2. Click Details. 
  3. Scroll down to the Other Relationships section (near the bottom of the page).  
  4. Find the relationship you want to delete.  
  5. Click the Edit icon. 
  6. Scroll down to the bottom of the pop-up menu, and click Delete Relationship.  
  7. Review the relationship events, sources, and notes.
  8. Click the corresponding check box.  
  9. Click Remove. 
  10. Enter a reason statement to show why the relationship should be removed. This will help other users understand the change and discourage people from making inaccurate changes in the future. 
  11. Click Delete. 

The relationship will be removed from both person pages.

Steps (mobile app)

  1. In the Family Tree mobile app, display the person page that you want to enhance. 
  2. Tap Details. 
  3. Scroll down to the Other Relationships section. 
  4. Find the relationship you want to delete.  
  5. Tap the Edit icon . 
  6. Tap the Delete option for that relationship.  
  7. Tap the check box.  
  8. Tap Continue. 
  9. Enter a reason statement to show why the relationship should be removed. This will help other users understand the change and discourage people from making inaccurate changes in the future. 
  10. Tap Delete. 

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How do I restore a deleted relationship in Family Tree?

If an important relationship in your tree was deleted, don't panic. You can restore it from the Latest Changes list.

Before you start, be aware that you cannot restore a relationship if one of the individuals in the relationship was deleted either manually or through a merge. First, restore the deleted individual, and then restore any deleted relationships. Otherwise, continue with these steps.

When you restore a deleted record, ordinances associated with the record display on the restored record. If you do not see ordinances you believe are complete, contact FamilySearch Support.

Steps (website)

  1. Sign in to FamilySearch and navigate to the Person page of the individual whose relationship that you want to restore.
  2. Click the Details tab.
  3. On the right, find Latest Changes.
  4. Click Show all. A list of changes appears, with the most recent changes at the top.
  5. Find the entry for the deleted relationship. In the Information column, look for the words "Parent-Child Relationship Deleted" or "Couple Relationship Deleted."
  6. Click Reference.
  7. Review available information about the relationship and deletion.
  8. Click Restore Relationship.
  9. Explain why, and then click Restore.

Steps (mobile app)

The Family Tree mobile app allows you to view deleted relationships, but it does not include an option to restore them.

Steps (Family Tree Lite)

Family Tree Lite does not provide an option to view or restore deleted relationships.

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The same child shows more than once in a family in Family Tree

Sometimes you find a family where one or more of the children is listed multiple times. If the child had multiple parents, such as biological and adopted parents, this information is usually accurate. However, if it is not accurate, decide whether duplicate records or incorrect parent-child relationships caused the problem.

Naming traditions

Some cultures and countries have naming traditions that result in children having the same or similar names:

  • In some cultures, when a child died, the next child of the same sex was given the same name as the child who died.
  • In some families, children have the same first name and different middle names.
  • In some families, children have the same names.
  • Twins are given similar names. 
  • Some people, when they marry, each already have children with the same or similar names. 

Before you make any corrections or merge any duplicates, look carefully at the birth and death information of the apparent duplicates. Watch out for multiple births and blended families. Examine the sources and reason statements to make sure that the records are about the same person.

Duplicate records in Family Tree

Sometimes, a child has more than one record in Family Tree, and the duplicate records all show up as separate children of the same parents. In this situation, the duplicate children have the same or similar names, birth dates, and other information. But they have different ID numbers.

The situation most typically occurs when someone merged records for the parents but then did not also merge the duplicate children. The list of recent changes shows you whether records were merged.

If you find duplicate records, first verify that the family had only one child by that name. Then merge the duplicate records. If the duplicate records each have a different sex, correct the sex of one of them, and then merge them.

Duplicate parent-child relationships

Sometimes, you see the same child listed in multiple families. A child in Family Tree can have multiple parent-child relationships. The system allows you to record biological, step, adopted, foster, and other relationships.

When a child is linked to multiple parents and some of them are wrong, correct the parent-child relationships. Specifically, remove the relationships that link the child to the wrong parents.

Sometimes a child appears with his or her parents and then shows again with one of the parents and an unknown spouse.

In this case:

  • The child has one relationship that links him or her to the correct father and mother.
  • And the child has a second relationship that connects him or her to one of the same parents with an unknown spouse.

You can delete that second relationship without affecting the first one by removing the child from the relationship that shows the child with only one parent. The single-parent relationship box will then disappear, leaving the correct 2-parent family relationship intact.  

Undoing your own mistake

When working with parent-child relationships, it is normal to be concerned about doing the wrong thing. We suggest that you write down the names, ID numbers, and relationships of the people you are working with. Remember that you can use the list of recent changes to undo merges and changes made to relationships.

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Blended Family Relationships

How do I add step, adopted, and foster parents to a child in Family Tree?

You can include more than one set of parents for a person, such as the biological and the adoptive parents. First, add the parents to the child's record.

Steps (website)

  1. In the top menu, click Family Tree, and then click Tree.
  2. Find the child of the relationship that you want to edit.
  3. Click the child's name. In the details that pop up, click the child's name again.
  4. Click the Details tab.
  5. Scroll to the Family Members section.
  6. Under Parents and Siblings, find the child's name, and click the Edit icon.
    1. Under the parent's name, either click + Add Relationship Type, or find Relationship to Child, and click the Edit icon
    2. Click the down arrow. Click the correct relationship. Explain the reason for your change, and then click Save. You can also click Delete and remove the relationship type.
    3. To see a summary of all relationship details for the child, click Tools, then click See All Changes.

Steps (mobile app)

  1. In the Family Tree mobile app, navigate to the Person page of the child with the incorrect relationship type.
  2. Tap the Parents tab.
  3. Find the child's name, and tap the Edit icon.
  4. Tap the drop-down arrow for either parent to view the current relationship type. 
    • To change the current relationship type, tap Edit.
    • To remove the current relationship type, tap Delete Relationship Type.
    • To enter a relationship type, click Add Relationship Type.
  5. Tap the down arrow for Relationship type. Tap the correct relationship.
  6. Explain the reason for your change, and tap Save.

Steps (Family Tree Lite)

  1. Sign in to Family Tree Lite.
  2. Navigate to the Person page of the child with the incorrect parents.
  3. Under the individual's name, tap View Family.
  4. Under Parents and Siblings, find the child's name, and tap the Edit icon.
    • To change the current relationship type, tap it. Tap Edit. Tap the down arrow, and then tap the relationship. You can add a date for an event that created the relationship. Explain the reason for your change, and tap Save.
    • If you do not see the relationship, tap Add Relationship Type. Select a relationship type, explain the reason for your change, and then click Save.

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How do I specify biological, step, adopted, and foster relationships in Family Tree?

The relationship type identifies the relationship of a child to a parent. Currently, Family Tree provides 5 relationship types:

  • Adopted
  • Biological
  • Guardianship
  • Foster
  • Step

When you link a child to a parent, Family Tree assumes the relationship is biological. If it is not, you can change it.

Steps (website)

  1. In the top menu, click Family Tree, and then click Tree.
  2. Find the child of the relationship you want to edit.
  3. Click the child's name. In the details that pop-up, click the child's name again. You will be taken to that person’s page.
  4. Click the Details tab.
  5. Scroll to the Family Members section.
  6. Under Parents and Siblings, find the child's name, and click the Edit icon.
    1. If a relationship shows, click Edit for a parent. Click the down arrow to see the choices. Click the correct relationship. Explain the reason for your change, and then click Save. You can also click Delete and remove the relationship type.
    2. When you see no relationship type, click Add Relationship Type. Select a relationship type, explain the reason for your change, and click Save.
    3. To see a summary of all relationship details for the child, click Tools, then click See All Changes.

Steps (mobile app)

  1. In the Family Tree mobile app, navigate to the Person page of the child with the incorrect relationship type.
  2. Tap the Parents tab.
  3. Find the child's name, and tap the edit icon.
  4. Tap the drop-down arrow for either parent to view the current relationship type. 
    • To change the current relationship type, tap Edit.
    • To remove the current relationship type, tap Delete Relationship Type.
    • To enter a relationship type, click Add Relationship Type.
  5. Tap the down arrow for Relationship type. Tap the correct relationship.
  6. Explain the reason for your change, and tap Save.

Steps (Family Tree Lite)

  1. Sign in to Family Tree Lite.
  2. Navigate to the Person page of the child with the incorrect parents.
  3. Under the individual's name, tap View Family.
  4. Under Parents and Siblings, find the child's name, and tap the Edit icon.
    • To change the current relationship type, tap it. Tap Edit. Tap the down arrow and then tap the relationship. You can add a date for an event that created the relationship. Explain the reason for your change, and tap Save.
    • If you see not relationship, tap Add Relationship Type. Select a relationship type, explain the reason for your change, and then click Save.

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Attaching Sources

How do I attach a source to a parent-child relationship?

You can add sources that provide evidence about a parent-child relationship.

Steps (website)

  1. In Family Tree, display the person page of a child or one of the parents.
  2. If the details section of the page is not displayed, click Details.
  3. Scroll down to the Family section.
  4. To the right of the child’s name, click the pencil icon.
  5. Find Relationship Sources and click Add Source.
  6. Click Add New Source, Add New Memory Source, or Attach from Source Box. Use the Related articles to understand how to use each option.
    1. Add New Source allows you to create a source.
    2. Add New Memory Source takes you to your Memories Gallery. Select a Memory item to use as a source.
    3. To use a source you added to Source Box, choose Attach from Source Box.

Steps (mobile app)

You cannot add sources to parent-child relationships using the Family Tree mobile app. To view and manage sources, use the website. 

Steps (Family Tree Lite)

You cannot add sources to parent-child relationships using the Family Tree Lite. To view and manage sources, use the full website.

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Additional Information

Same-sex relationships in FamilySearch: FAQ

FamilySearch is one of the world's largest collections of genealogical data, drawn from civil, ecclesiastical, and other sources to be assessed for their genealogical value by each researcher. FamilySearch Family Tree now provides the ability for users to document same-sex family relationships.  

Consistent with the doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, only marriages between people of the opposite sex may be solemnized or sealed in the temple.

Q&A Updates for Relationships in FamilySearch Family Tree

1. Why is FamilySearch doing this?

The FamilySearch Family Tree is designed to encourage genealogical accuracy based on original source records. The Family Tree provides the ability for users to document all family relationships, including same-sex marriages and same-sex adoptions. 

2. Is this a change in Church doctrine?

No. FamilySearch seeks to digitally preserve and provide access to genealogical and historical records, and this is part of its efforts to accurately document the human family. The Church solemnizes or seals marriages only between people of the opposite sex. 

3. Can same-sex couples be sealed to each other?

No. Consistent with the Church’s doctrine, same-sex couples are not sealed to each other, even if they have been legally married. A deceased individual who has lived in a same-sex couple relationship or who has been a party to a same-sex marriage may receive all other available religious rites in a temple for which he or she is eligible. 

4. Can children of same-sex couples be sealed to them?

No. In accordance with Church doctrine, children are not sealed to same-sex couples, even if the couples have been legally married. 

5. Is FamilySearch the first genealogy site to allow the recording of same-sex relationships?

No. FamilySearch is not the first genealogy site to allow for recording same-sex relationships.  

6. What changes will I see in Family Tree?

When adding a spouse or parent, the user can now add a spouse or parent of the same sex.  

7. What was required to add the functionality?

Several systems that surround Family Tree, such as Tree and record searching, had to be significantly redesigned to allow for the documentation of same-sex relationships before Family Tree was able to release this functionality.  

8. Does it work in the Family Tree mobile app?

Yes. It will work on the mobile app once the user installs the necessary updates. 

9. Can I submit memories (photos, stories, documents) whose subject matter relates to same-sex relationships?

The standards for submitting memories (photos, stories, documents) are the same for all users, and follow the FamilySearch Upload Guidelines and Policies.

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How do I delete a parent or child relationship in Family Tree using JAWS?

You can delete an incorrect child-parent relationship on Family Tree using JAWS. JAWS (Job Access with Speech) is a screen reader that blind or visually impaired individuals can use to access Family Tree. 

Perform the following steps to delete an incorrect parent and child relationship in Family Tree using JAWS: 

The steps to delete an incorrect parent-child relationship are below:

  1. Sign in to Family Tree at https://familysearch.org/tree.
  2. Go to the details page for the parent or child with the incorrect relationship. To do this, use the Find command, the Recents list, or move to a person already present on the Tree or Details page.
  3. Move to the Family Members heading. Use the JAWS Virtual Find command, or press H until you hear “Family Members.”
  4. Maximize the screen to increase the probability of the steps working correctly. To do this, press Alt + Space Bar and then X.
  5. Move to the child with the incorrect relationship. On the details page of the child, the individual appears as a child under Parents and Siblings. If you are on the details page for one of the parents, the individual appears as a child under Spouses and Children.
  6. Move to the Edit Parents button. This button is not labeled in the current Family Tree release. To find the button, press the Down Arrow until you hear "Unlabeled 1" button.  Press the Spacebar to activate the button.
  7. A new page displays. Move to the Remove or Replace button menu. To do this, press H 3 times to move to the Child heading. Then press the Down Arrow until you hear "Remove or replace."  Press the Spacebar to activate the button.
  8. Move to the check box labeled "I have reviewed the relationships, sources, and notes for these individuals."  This is done by pressing tab followed by X.  Press the Spacebar to check this box.
  9. To remove the parents, perform steps 10 through 12 below. To replace the parents, go to step 13.
  10. Press tab to move to the Remove Parents button, and press the Spacebar to activate the button.
  11. Move to the edit field with the title "Reason for my change" and enter the reason for deleting the relationship. You can quickly move to the Edit field by pressing tab followed by E. 
  12. Press tab to move to the Remove button, and press the Spacebar to activate the button.  If you decide you do not want to delete the relationship, press tab again to move to the Cancel button, and press the Spacebar to activate the button.
  13. To replace the parents, press Tab twice to move to the Replace Parents button menu, and press the Spacebar to activate the button.
  14. A screen to find the correct parents is displayed. You can search for the parents by name or ID. 
  15. To search for the parents by name, move to the first edit field by pressing E, enter the requested information, press Tab to go to the Next button, and  press the Spacebar to activate the button. Go to step 17.
  16. To search for the parents by ID, move to the Find by ID field, enter the ID for one of the parents, press Tab to move to the Find button, and press the Spacebar to activate the button. 
  17.  A list of results is displayed.  Move to the correct couple, and press the Spacebar on Add Couple to add the correct parents.
  18. After the incorrect relationship is deleted, press Escape to dismiss the relationship screen.  You are taken back to the Person page, where the modified relationship is displayed.    

JAWS commands used in this article are below:                            E:  Move to the next edit forms field.
F:  Move to the next forms field.
H:  Move to the next heading.
Insert+F7:  Bring up a dialog box with a list of all links present on the page.
Insert+Ctrl+F:  Activate the JAWS virtual find dialog.
Enter:  Activate the link in focus.
Spacebar:  Activate the button, or change the state of the check box or radio button in focus.

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What is the maximum number of Other Relationships a person can have in Family Tree?

In Family Tree, the maximum number of Other Relationships that a person can have depends on the relationship type. Check out the chart below to see how many Other Relationships each person can have.

Relationship TypeMaximum Number
Relative20
Apprenticeship 50
Godparent50
Enslavement200
Employer50
Neighbor50
Household50

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A person in Family Tree has the wrong spouse
How do I identify biological, step, adopted, and foster relationships in Family Tree?
How do I switch parent or spouse positions to change the display of family lines in Family Tree?
How do I add or change marriage information in Family Tree?
How do I add a source to a couple relationship in Family Tree?
How do I add or change marriage information in Family Tree?
How do I add notes to a person in Family Tree?
How do I add sources to Other Relationships in Family Tree?
What is the Other Relationships feature in Family Tree?
How do I see what changes were made about a person in Family Tree?
How do I merge possible duplicates in Family Tree?
What does the landscape view do in Family Tree?
How do I see what changes were made about a person in Family Tree?
How do I restore an Other Relationship to a person in Family Tree?
How do I remove Other Relationships from Family Tree?
How do I add Other Relationships to a person in Family Tree?
How do I add sources to Other Relationships in Family Tree?
How do I restore a deleted record for a person in Family Tree?
How do I see what changes were made about a person in Family Tree?
How do I undo an incorrect change in Family Tree?
How do I create a source in Family Tree?
How do I add an outside source to Family Tree?
How do I attach source from Source Box?
FamilySearch Adds Ability to Document All Family Relationships (FamilySearch Newsroom)
How do I add a spouse or partner in Family Tree?

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