Family Tree Features and Functions for Support

What is the purpose of FamilySearch and Family Tree?

The overall purpose of Family Tree is to help you discover your family and, in turn, discover a bit about yourself.

• Family Tree is different from other similar genealogy sites. Family Tree is a single, public tree linked together in families. Other sites only allow users to create and manage their own private trees. Everyone in Family Tree works together on the same data. Our goal is to connect every member of the human family.
• Family Tree compares historical records to people in the tree to help you find sources for that person.
• Family Tree compares similar people in the tree to help you find duplicate people, which you can merge.
• Family Tree provides messaging and collaboration tools, as well as free phone and email support, to help you resolve errors.
• Family Tree draws from FamilySearch's enormous and growing database to provide record hints. Hints help you link to earlier generations.
• The Memories section can help foster deeper connections to ancestors. You can preserve and share photos and histories.
• We want Family Tree to be accessible to as many people as possible. In addition to the full website, you can use our mobile apps or the Family Tree Lite website.

Our hope is that through Family Tree, we can work together to create a well-sourced, public family tree. We want to help family members connect to deceased and living relatives.

To learn more about FamilySearch, or if you need help, visit FamilySearch.org/about.

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Family Tree Essentials

The instructional resources for this section, such as learning roadmaps, lessons, and activities, are found below. Be sure you complete each one.

Table of Contents

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Changes to Family Tree do not show up immediately on the discovery pages.

A delay exists in communication between the Family Tree and the discovery pages. Give the discovery pages time to be refreshed after you correct the information in Family Tree.

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What are ID numbers used for in Family Tree?

An ID number (identification number) is a string of letters and numbers that uniquely identifies a record in Family Tree. ID numbers consist of 4 characters, a hyphen, and 3 more characters. For example: K8LL-TGB. Family Tree ID numbers never contain these letters: A, E, I, O, U.

An ID number:

• Shows on all tree views, on person cards, and on the Person page
• Usually appears near the person's name
• Is automatically assigned when a new record is created
• Does not provide information about the person or the source of the information
• Does not change for a given record

In Family Tree, you can use the ID number to:

• Find records of deceased people.
• Find records of living people, if you added them. The records of living people are only searchable to the person who added them.
• Find the record of a deleted person and restore it if necessary.
• Link a deceased individual into a family tree.
• Merge records by ID number if you know the ID number of a duplicate. Both records must show as deceased. 

Notes

• If you see the message that an ID number is invalid, it is no longer assigned to a record.
• When you search by ID number, you can enter the number in lowercase letters, with or without the hyphen.
• When you add a living person, a unique ID is created. When another patron adds the same living person, a different ID number is created.
• You cannot merge the records of a living person with the same living person created by someone else. You can merge records of a living person only if you created both records.
• If you click on an ID in portrait, landscape, and first ancestor views, it will automatically copy it. Fan chart and descendancy views don't copy automatically, but clicking IDs will give you the option to copy them if you choose.

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What are the data limits for people in Family Tree?

In Family Tree, the record for a person has the following data limits:

• Spouses: 200
• Parents: 100
• Children: 400
• Names, facts, and events in the Other Information section: 200
• Sources: 200
• Memories: 1,000
• Other persons identified as "not a match": 400
• Discussions: 50
• Individual notes: 50 (each note can have up to 10,752 characters)
• Relationship notes: 12 (each note can have up to 10,752 characters)
• Church membership records: Up to 100 Church membership records. (Membership records do not appear as a source, but that enhancement is being considered.)

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What are all the different tasks lists in the Family Tree?

To help you discover and connect your family, FamilySearch provides various task lists, record hints, and other tips.

Recommended Tasks (website)The Recommended Tasks list is on the FamilySearch.org home page after you sign in.

Here are the key features:

• Suggests tasks and gives information to help you start and extend your Family Tree.
• As you enter more information about your family, the system identifies places in the first few generations of your tree where direct ancestors are missing.
• Searches the historical records database and provides potential matching information about your ancestors, which you must carefully review to ensure that the information is a definite match before you accept it as a match.
• Suggested and potential matching record hints appear on this list and are marked with a blue icon.

Ancestors with Tasks (mobile app)Ancestors with Tasks is a feature of the Family Tree mobile app. Use it to find ancestors quickly who have record hints. The system scans the people in Family Tree that you viewed recently, your first five generations of ancestors as well as their children, and any part of your pedigree that you have expanded.

To find it on the Apple iOS, tap Tasks at the bottom of the screen. On Android, tap the three lines in the top-left corner. Then tap Ancestors with Tasks. To expand the list to include the parents, spouses, and children of each person you visit, navigate to the mobile app's settings, and turn on Expand Ancestors with Tasks.

Descendants with Tasks (mobile app)Descendants with Tasks is available only on the Family Tree mobile app. The list helps you narrow your search to tasks within a certain family line. From a person page, tap the three dots in the top-left corner. To view a list of tasks for up to five generations of your relative's descendants, tap Descendants with Tasks.

Ancestors who need temple workIf you are signed in as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, task lists also identify ancestors who need temple work. Temple work opportunities have a yellow or green temple icon.

• Green icons mean that you can request ordinances immediately. No possible duplicates were identified. Tap a green icon to request the ordinance.
• Yellow icons mean that the person needs some additional information before the name can be submitted for temple work. To qualify for temple work, an ancestor must have a sex indicated, a valid name, and a date and place for at least one life event. Tap a yellow icon to see what information is required.

Select the Temple button on any one of these lists in order to narrow the results to temple work opportunities. If this option is not visible on the mobile app, do the following:

• Apple iOS: Try scrolling all the way to the top until it appears.
• Android: Tap the 3 lines that form a down arrow. Then select the way you want to filter the list.

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Family Tree compared to personal genealogy software

Family Tree is a great place to store your genealogy and family history. Other companies sell software that allows you to store similar information on your personal computer. This article examines the benefits of each option. Some users want to use both. 

Benefits of using Family Tree

• Accessible from anywhere in the world.  
• Invites collaboration from other users.  
• Available to other users after you die.  
• Provides a messaging system for communicating with other users. 

Benefits of using personal software

• More control over how you organize and share information. 
• Freedom to add unverified or undocumented information. 
• More options for creating, generating, and printing reports.  
• Advanced search options.  

FamilySearch looks for opportunities to collaborate with other companies. Visit the Solutions Gallery to find some of the great products compatible with Family Tree. 

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What are the differences between the different task lists on Family Tree website and mobile app?

Both the Family Tree web and mobile apps help you find ancestors with record hints and temple opportunities. If you use Family Tree on both products, your 2 lists contain different people.

How much of your tree do the task lists search?Both products search a part of your tree to find people with record hints. The Ancestors with Tasks list for mobile looks at 7 or 8 generations of ancestors and any additional lines you have viewed. The Descendants with Tasks list searches 3 to 5 generations. The web app scans 6 generations of ancestors and 1 generation of their descendants.How the system adds people to the listThe mobile app tracks each person you view. If you display a person who has record hints, the app adds that person to the Ancestors with Tasks list. The web app does not do this.

Can I remove names from the lists?

The Temple and Record Hints list on the web interface does not have an option to remove names. The mobile Tree app, you can remove names from the Ancestors with Tasks and Descendants with tasks lists. Swipe a name to the left and then tap Remove. (On Android devices, you can swipe to the left or the right and then tap Remove.)

Ordinances

The lists on both the website and mobile app identify family names from your tree that need ordinances. The Temple and Record Hints list on the website excludes family names that require permission and family names with possible duplicates. The tasks list in the mobile app includes both.

Can I ask to only see temple tasks or only hints?

You can customize your tasks list on both mobile and web interface.

• On the web, find the Temple and Record Hints list. At the top, click Records or Temple.
• On the mobile Tree app for Android, open an Ancestor with Tasks or Descendants with Tasks list. At the top-right of the list, tap the 3 lines and then tap All, Temple, or Hints.
• On the mobile Tree app for iOS, open an Ancestor with Tasks list. Pull down on the list to reveal 3 buttons at the top. Tap All, Hints, or Temple. The Descendants with Tasks list lacks the option to filter on iOS devices.

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Instant Family Tree

Instant Family Tree is an engaging approach to start building a family tree in the FamilySearch Family Tree, and a way to create family tree keepsakes to share with family. Instant Family Tree was designed for individuals who are new to FamilySearch, who have few or no people in FamilySearch Family Tree, and individuals who want to print a family tree keepsake.

The current experience was developed for the African and Middle East areas of the world. The African Instant Family Tree experience can be found here.

While creating the instant family tree, all names, dates, and places are stored in the local cache of the device. Names, dates, and places are NOT saved to FamilySearch Family Tree until after the individual clicks Finalize Design.

During the process of creating an Instant Family Tree, instructions will appear on the screen to guide the user to create the tree.

Names will be viewable for individuals on their own Instant Family Tree.

This experience works best in the Chrome browser, on mobile devices (it is optimized for mobile).

Middle East Sensitive Countries

The Middle East has hybrid countries and sensitive countries. In hybrid countries, only the user can view what he or she entered on FamilySearch.org in the regular Family Tree. If users leave Instant Family Tree and enter regular Family Tree, they may have difficulty or may not be able to see sensitive names.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• Question: What specific audiences are affected by this release?

  Answer: The 2 main target audiences for this new discovery experience are people in Africa.

• Question: What is the expected outcome of this new discovery experience?

  Answers:

  • This product helps users prepare their tree to either receive a keepsake or take steps to prepare their names for the temple.
  • This helps guests who want to create a view or tree of their immediate or current family.
  • This makes it possible to create a tree more quickly. Additionally, being able to quickly create a tree saves on the high cost of mobile data for guests in Africa.
  • This provides a tree-building experience for guests who do not have records available.
  • Once the user has started on the product, they can build their tree offline until they're ready to save their data by finalizing their tree.
• What are the anticipated questions associated with this release?

  • Question: How do I start?

    Answer: Go to the Google Play store, download the FamilySearch Africa app or go to familysearch.org/africa. Then click Create A Beautiful Family Tree.

  • Question: What is the end result?

    Answer: A free, stylized family tree.

  • Question: How do I pick a tree?

    Answer: Click on any of the tree design options.

  • Question: How do I add a person to the Instant Family Tree?

    Answer:

    • Add yourself first.
    • Click on any add button.
    • Your position within the tree can be adjusted, if desired.

  • Question: Why can I not add my ancestor or grandparents first?

    Answer:

    • You must add yourself first to begin building your tree.
    • Then add your parents, spouse, children, or siblings.
    • Once you add your parents, you can add your grandparents.
    • Once you add your grandparents, you can add aunts, uncles, ancestors, and other relatives.

  • Question: What do I do on the Select Your Tree Size page?

    Answer:

    • There are 2 types of trees: Random trees and Grid trees (or Relationship trees).
    • On trees that have grids, guests can select different tree sizes. Random trees only have 1 size.

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Is it possible to trace my lineage back to Adam and Eve?

Robert C. Gunderson, Senior Royalty Research Specialist of the Church Family History Department, stated:

“The simplest answer . . . is No. Let me explain. In thirty-five years of genealogical research, I have yet to see a pedigree back to Adam that can be documented. By assignment, I have reviewed hundreds of pedigrees over the years. I have not found one where each connection on the pedigree can be justified by evidence from contemporary documents. In my opinion it is not even possible to verify historically a connected European pedigree earlier than the time of the Merovingian Kings (c. a.d. 450–a.d. 752).

“Every pedigree I have seen which attempts to bridge the gap between that time and the biblical pedigree appears to be based on questionable tradition, or at worst, plain fabrication. Generally these pedigrees offer no evidence as to the origin of the information, or they cite a vague source” (“I Have a Question,” Ensign, Feb. 1984, 31)

François Weil, Chancellor of the Universities of Paris, stated:

"Genealogy was originally the prerogative of kings and princes. The oldest surviving royal genealogies in Europe go back to the sixth century A.D. for Gothic sovereigns, to the seventh century for their Irish, Lombardic, Visigothic, and Frankish counterparts, and to the eighth and ninth centuries for Anglo-Saxon and Carolingian kings" (Family Trees: A History of Genealogy in America [2013], 10–11).

Thus Weil and Gunderson agree—European royal pedigrees cannot be verified before the 500s A.D.

If a family history or pedigree implies otherwise, you are encouraged to ask contributors for their sources.

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What is Family Tree Lite?

Family Tree Lite is a version of Family Tree for use in areas of the world where the primary access to the internet is on mobile devices with low bandwidth and limited data. You can use it to add information about living and deceased persons to Family Tree. You can also edit that information.

Family Tree Lite displays up to 4 generations of your family tree on one page. You can navigate to generations further back if the people are already in Family Tree.

Family Tree Lite uses the same database as the full version of Family Tree. The information that you add using Family Tree Lite is available in the full version immediately. You do not need synchronize or wait.

Family Tree Lite does not have all of the features available on the FamilySearch and Family Tree mobile app. For example, you cannot use memories, historical records, messaging, and other services that take too much bandwidth. Indexing is available on the website only.

Family Tree Lite is currently available in German, English, Spanish, French, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese (read-only), Khmer, Korean (read-only), Malagasy, Mongolian, Portuguese, Russian, Swahili, Thai, Chinese (read-only).

For Church membersMembers of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints can use Family Tree Lite to reserve family names for temple work. You cannot, however, print the family name cards directly from Family Tree Lite.

Instead, the Temple page shows a 16-digit number for the ordinances you have selected to take to the temple. Write this number down, and take it to the temple. Using the number, temple staff can print the temple ordinance cards for you.

Steps

1. Using a browser on your mobile phone or computer, go to Family Tree Lite (https://lite.fs.org)
2. Enter the username and password of your Church Account.
   • If you forgot your username or password, tap the appropriate link to retrieve your username or reset your password.
   • If you do not have an account, tap Free Account to register for an Church Account.
3. Tap Sign in.

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What are reason statements in Family Tree?

In Family Tree, reason statements help others understand your changes and can help prevent incorrect edits in the future. In some places in Family Tree, you can select a suggested reason statement.

The reason statements are not the place to hold a dialog or debate with other users. Use the Discussions feature to post questions or request information from other users.

Tips for effective reason statements

• Write clearly. Use complete sentences.
• Be concise. Reason statements have a limit of 2,000 characters.
• Avoid “I” statements. Instead, write in the third person (such as “The census shows….”).
• Keep your tone professional and neutral.
• Focus the explanation on the ancestor and the sources that support the information.
• Indicate what information the sources clearly support and what information still needs sources. For example, state that the birth month and year came from a census.
• Identify the sources you used. If possible, attach the sources to the person, and tag sources to the information they support.
• If the records contain contradictory or incorrect information, explain why you think one version is the most correct.
• If information contradicts family stories, explain why you believe that your information is more accurate than the stories.
• If you derived or estimated information, explain how you reached your conclusion.
• If you delete information, explain why you deleted it and did not correct the information.
• Point out relevant discussions.
• Ask someone to read your reason statement to make sure you communicated clearly.

Examples of reason statements

• Burial: The document provides evidence of the burial place and [key information on grave marker].
• Civil Registration (England, Ireland, Wales): This record provides evidence of [event] year and general [event] location.
• Christening:
  • For the child: This document provides evidence of christening date and place, along with parents' names.
  • For the parent: This document provides evidence of [parent name]'s relationship to [child], and [spouse].
• Census: This census return provides evidence of residence, birthplace, approximate birth year, and [list other key information if applicable].
• Draft Registration: The document provides evidence of [list key information].
• Marriage: This marriage record provides evidence of marriage date and place and [key information on record].
• Merge: All vital information and relationships match.
  • Note: The screen where you enter a reason statement for a merge contains several examples. You can either click a suggested reason statement to use, or enter your own.
• Not a Match: [ID number] is a different person from [ID number] because [reason].

Edit reason statements

You can edit reason statements on sources attached to a person.

1. Click a Source title or View Source below title.
2. At the bottom, you can click Add or Edit reason statements.
3. The original statement still shows in the changes list.

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"These generations do not connect through a direct line"

This message appears for one of two reasons:

• One or more generations of your ancestors are not in Family Tree. Add the missing generations to fix the tree.
• The parents and children are not correctly connected as parents and children. Fix the parent-child relationships to fix the tree.
• Other factors may also cause this error to appear.

To solve these problems, follow the step-by-step instructions below.

Add the missing generations

Step 1. At the top-right of the person's tile, click +.

• If you are working from the top of your tree to the bottom, select Add Children.
• If you are working from the bottom to the top, select Add Parents.

Step 2. Select the language template. It is above the name fields.

Then enter the name and other information, and select Next.

Step 3. Check the possible matches.

Family Tree checks to see if the person you are adding is already in its database. The left column displays the person you entered. The right column lists possible matches, if found.

• If a match is listed, select Add Match.
• If no match is found, select Create Person.

Step 4. Repeat until you have added all the missing generations.

Fix the parent-child relationships.

Step 1. Click the parent's identification number to copy it.

This unique identification number contains letters and numbers and is located on the person's tile.

Step 2. On the son's tile, click +, and select Add Parent.

Step 3. Select By ID Number, and paste parent's ID into the field.

Then select Next.

Other factors causing broken trees

Apart from the main reasons mentioned previously, the following factors can also cause broken trees.

The person of focus is not a direct descendant of the first ancestor

Even if you are a direct descendant of the person listed as the first ancestor, this message may appear if you're not in the first ancestor's direct line. To view other relationship types, use a different pedigree view like the landscape view.

Note: On occasion, the yellow clan path may include a woman if she has the same family name as the first ancestor.

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Related Articles

Changes to Family Tree do not show up immediately on the discovery pages.

What are ID numbers used for in Family Tree?

What are the data limits for people in Family Tree?

What is Family Tree Lite?

Family Tree compared to personal genealogy software

What are the differences between the different task lists on Family Tree website and mobile app?

What are all the different tasks lists in the Family Tree?

Instant Family Tree

Is it possible to trace my lineage back to Adam and Eve?

Family Tree Essentials

What is the purpose of FamilySearch and Family Tree?

What are reason statements in Family Tree?

"These generations do not connect through a direct line"