Family history feels personal because it is personal. A fact can be historically interesting and still be unsafe or painful to publish. Establish separate access levels for the research team, the extended family, and the public before collecting information from living relatives.
Minimize living-person data
A reunion display usually needs a name, family branch, and relationship. It rarely needs a complete birth date, home address, phone number, email address, workplace, school schedule, medical information, or government identifier. Collect only what the project requires and state how long it will be retained.
Separate sensitive subjects
Adoption, donor conception, parentage, incarceration, immigration status, health, DNA matches, estrangement, and abuse require special care. Do not reveal another person's sensitive history to make a tree appear complete. Record restrictions and give contributors a clear way to correct or withdraw information.
Create access levels
Maintain a restricted research tree with source notes, a family-access version with agreed details, and a public version containing deceased ancestors and approved context. Use accounts and permissions rather than public links for restricted files. Review access when stewardship changes.
Explain DNA limits
DNA testing can reveal unexpected relationships and information affecting people who never tested. Obtain informed consent, explain possible surprises, avoid promising a precise ethnic or family conclusion, and never upload another person's data without authorization. Genetic evidence should be combined with documentary research.
Frequently asked questions
Can a family tree list living relatives?
Yes, but use minimal information, an appropriate access level, and the relative's informed permission when sharing beyond a private family setting.
Who owns information in a family tree?
Individual facts may not be copyrightable, but photographs, writing, databases, platform terms, privacy rights, and donor restrictions can still control use.
Should DNA results appear at a reunion?
Only with informed permission and a plan for unexpected or sensitive findings. Broad public display is rarely appropriate.