How do I add a family member to the pedigree in Family Tree?

Family Tree allows you to build out your family tree easily. If you’re just getting started, first add people you know, such as a spouse, parents, or grandparents. Depending on individual circumstances, it may be helpful to contact close relatives for any missing details you may come across.

The more generations you add, the easier it will be for Family Tree to link you to matching ancestors that may already exist in the system or to provide you with record hints for those yet to be added.

In order to protect the privacy of living people, other FamilySearch users will not be able to see information that you enter about living family members.

For more in-depth instructions on how to add people to your tree, or for more information about our privacy policy, see the articles linked below.

Steps (website)

You can view Family Tree a few different ways, meaning there are a few different ways to add in family members.

Landscape View

1. Use the arrows to expand the tree to the end of a line.
2. Click the appropriate link for the person you want to add:
   
   • To add a parent or spouse, click Add Parent or Add Spouse.
   • To add a child, click Children below a couple box, and then click Add Child.

Portrait View

1. Use the arrows to find the end of a line.
2. Click Add Parent to add a parent.
3. To add a child, use the landscape view. The portrait view does not show the children of the pedigree couples.

First Ancestor View

1. Find the person who has missing family members (such as parents, children, or spouses).
2. Above the person's picture, click the + icon:
   
   • To add a child, click Add Child.
   • To add a spouse, click Add Spouse.
   • To add a parent, click Add Parent.

Steps (mobile app)

The Family Tree mobile app automatically opens to the pedigree. This is currently the only available view of Family Tree from the app.

1. Use the arrows to expand the tree to the end of a line.
2. To add a parent or spouse, tap Add Parent or Add Spouse, respectively.
3. To add a child, tap the parent, tap the Spouses tab, and tap Add Child.

Steps (Family Tree Lite)

In Family Tree Lite, you can add 4 generations of your direct-line ancestors directly from one screen. You can also add more of your ancestors and family than what this screen displays. For example, you can add your great-great grandparents and beyond; the spouse, children, and grandchildren of your direct-line ancestors; or the parents and siblings of your spouse or children.

1. On the Me tab, find the place where the person should appear. Or, if the screen does not contain the place where you need to add the name, find the closest relative, and then follow these steps:
   
   1. Tap the name of the closest relative to that person. For example, to add parents for your spouse, tap your spouse's name. To add your great-great-grandparents, tap the name of the great-grandparent whose parents you want to add.
   2. Tap View Family. You can find this link in the bar that shows the person's name at the top of the page.
2. Tap the appropriate link to add a spouse, child, or parent for the person.
3. Enter the name, sex, and birth and death information. Be sure to indicate whether the person is alive or deceased.
4. Tap Next.
5. If you indicated that the person is alive, the data you entered is added into the system. Or, if you indicated that the person is deceased, the system searches to see if that person is already in Family Tree.
   
   • If Family Tree found possible matches, review the list. If one of the people listed is the right one, tap Add Person above the name.
   • If Family Tree did not find possible matches or if none of the possible matches are the right person, tap Create Person at the top of the list.

Related articles

How does Family Tree protect the privacy of living people?
How do I add living relatives to a person in Family Tree?
How do I add an unconnected person to Family Tree?
How do I add an ancestor who is already in Family Tree to my pedigree?