Written by Generation Archives. We make a private family tree app, so some steps describe how ours works. The method applies to any tree and to paper copies as well.

How to share a family tree safely with relatives

Published by Generation Archives on November 5, 2026.

At some point, your tree has to leave your head and your computer. A cousin asks to see it. A parent wants a copy. You want help filling in a branch you do not know. Sharing is the point of a family tree, and it is also where most privacy problems start. This guide gives a step-by-step way to share a tree with relatives while keeping control of what is in it.

Step 1: decide what you are sharing

Different people need different things. Be specific before you pick a method.

A glance. "Show me what you have." A picture of the tree will do.
A copy. "Can I have this?" A file or an invitation to the tree.
A role. "I can help with the Ames side." A person who can add and edit.
A story. "Tell me about Grandpa." One person's page, not the whole tree.

The smallest thing that meets the need is the safest. A relative who wants to see the family does not need edit access.

Step 2: look at your own tree first

Before you share, open the tree as a stranger would see it. Check:

Living people. Who is on the tree, and what is written about them? Full birth dates, addresses, and private details should not be there unless the person agreed. What to record about living people gives guidance.
Notes and biographies. Read some. Stories that were fine for you may not be fine for a cousin.
Photos. Are there photos of children, or of people who would not want to be shared?
Sensitive topics. Adoption, illness, estrangement, and anything someone told you in confidence.
Your own information. An address in a note, or a phone number in a photo caption.

Fix what you find first. This takes an hour once, and saves a lot later.

Step 3: choose a method

Method	Who can see	Can they change it	Good for	Watch out for
Picture or PDF	Anyone you send it to	No	A reunion, a card, a poster	It can be forwarded. Check that it only shows what you want
GEDCOM file	Anyone with the file	They get their own copy	Someone with their own software	Contains everything, including living people and notes. Cannot be recalled
Invitation to a private tree	Only people you invite	Depends on the role you give	Working with relatives	Each person is a place the tree can leak from
Public link	Anyone with the link	No, usually	Long-dead ancestors, fictional families	The link can travel. Not suitable for living people
Printed copy	Anyone who holds it	No	Older relatives, gifts	Cannot be corrected once printed

See how to export a family tree as GEDCOM for the file route, and public, private, or invite-only for a longer comparison of the models.

Step 4: share with the right level of access

If you invite people to a tree, decide what they can do.

View only. They can look. Choose this for most relatives.
Edit. They can add and change people, notes, and photos. Choose this for people who will help, and whom you trust to be careful.

In Generation Archives, you invite collaborators by email with view or edit access, and you can remove them anytime from tree settings. Trees are private by default, visible only to you and the relatives you invite. A public link is a separate setting that you turn on yourself. The private family tree guide explains the options.

A few habits help:

Start with view access and upgrade later.
Invite people individually, not by posting a link in a group chat.
Tell them what you expect. "Please do not share this outside the family" is a reasonable thing to say.
Ask editors to add sources, so you can see where a change came from. See how to cite a photo, letter, or interview.

Step 5: write a short message

A sentence or two prevents most misunderstandings. For example:

> "I've put the family tree online. It's private and only people I invite can see it, so please don't forward the link or post photos of it. If you see anything wrong, tell me and I'll fix it. Please don't add details about living relatives unless they've said it's fine."

That sets expectations, and gives people a way to fix mistakes without editing directly.

Step 6: expect corrections, and decide how to handle them

Sharing a tree usually brings corrections. Some are welcome. A few are not.

Thank the person, even if you disagree.
Ask for the source. "How do you know?" is a fair question and not an insult.
Keep both versions if you cannot settle it, and note who said what.
Do not argue over a date in a group chat. Take it to a private conversation.
Remove what someone asks to be removed. If a relative asks you to take down a photo or a detail about themselves, do it.

Step 7: look after the tree over time

Sharing is not a one-time event. After you share:

Review who has access every few months. Remove people who no longer need it.
Check the settings. A public link switched on for a test may still be on.
Back up regularly. If several people edit, mistakes happen. How to back up a family tree has a routine.
Update the group when you make big changes.

Sharing with people who do not use computers

Not everyone wants an account. Options:

Print a chart and mail or hand it over. A pedigree chart or family group sheet can be filled in by hand.
Make a one-page picture of the part of the family they care about.
Read it to them, or sit with them and look at the screen. This is also a good way to collect corrections.

What to do if something gets shared that should not

Remove the details from the tree.
Change the setting that allowed it, such as turning off a public link.
Tell the person affected, if there is one, and apologize.
Ask the people who received it to delete their copies.
Accept that you cannot guarantee it is gone, and use it as a reason to share less next time.

A short pre-share checklist

I know exactly what I am sharing and with whom.
I have checked the tree for living people's details.
I have chosen the smallest method that works.
I have set view or edit access deliberately.
I have told people how I want it used.
I have a backup.

Frequently asked questions

Is it safe to share a family tree online?

It can be, if you choose a private method, limit who has access, and keep living people's details out. No online setting can stop a trusted person from copying what they can see.

Should I give relatives edit access?

Only if they will help and you trust them. View access is enough for most people. You can change it later.

Can I share only part of a tree?

Often yes. You can export a picture of one branch, or keep branches in separate trees. In Generation Archives you can keep several trees under one account and several named layouts for the same tree.

What is the safest way to give someone a copy?

A PDF or image shows the tree but not the data behind it. A GEDCOM gives them everything in the file. Choose the one that matches what they need.

What if a relative does not want to be on the tree?

Take them off, or reduce their entry to a name and a link. See what to record about living people.

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