How do I add an ancestor who is already in Family Tree to my pedigree?

Article Id: 1181
May 31, 2022

It's possible your ancestor already exists in FamilySearch's database. Here's how to add an existing record to your part of the Tree.

Steps (website)

Landscape, Portrait, Fan Chart, and Descendancy Views

  1. In the top menu, click Family Tree, and then click Tree.
  2. Find the person on the tree that you want to enhance.
  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 down to the Family Members section.
  6. You can add and link an existing person in Family Tree using 1 of these features:
    • Click Add Parent.
    • Click Add Child.
    • Click Add Spouse.
  7. Enter information about your ancestor, and click Next. If you know the ID of the individual, click By ID Number.
    • When you enter information, you must include at least a last name, indicate the sex of the person, and check Deceased.
  8. Review the search results. If you find the right person, click Add Person.
  9. If you do not see the person in the search results, click Create New.

First Ancestor View

  1. While signed in to FamilySearch, click Family Tree, and then click Tree.
  2. Find the relative of the person you want to add.
  3. Click the + icon in the top right.
  4. Click one of the options:
    • Add Child
    • Add Spouse
    • Add Parent
  5. Enter information about your ancestor, and click Next. If you know the ID of the individual, click By ID Number.
    • When you enter information, you must include at least a last name, indicate the sex of the person, and check Deceased.
  6. Review the search results. If you find the right person, 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 app, tap the name of a person to whom you want to add a relative.
  2. You can add and link an existing person in Family Tree using one of these 2 tabs:
    • To add a spouse or a child, tap Spouses.
    • To add a parent or a sibling, tap Parents.
  3. Enter information about your ancestor, and tap Continue. If you know the ID of the individual, tap Add by ID or Find by ID.
  4. Review  the search results. If you find the right person, tap Add Match.
  5. If you do not see the person in the search results, tap No Match. 
  6. Review your entry, and tap Add or Add This Person.

Steps (Family Tree Lite)

  1. While signed in to Family Tree Lite, click the name of the person to whom you want to add a direct relation.
  2. Click View Family.
  3. You can add and link an existing person in Family Tree using 1 of these 3 features:
    • Click Add Parent.
    • Click Add Child.
    • Click Add Spouse.
  4. Enter information about your ancestor, and click Next. If you know the ID of the person, click Find By ID Number.
  5. Review the search results. If you find the right person, click Add Person.
  6. If you do not see the person in the search results, click Create Person.

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