Privacy guide
A private family tree should protect people—not only hide a page.
The right family-tree privacy model combines individual access, careful treatment of living people, reviewed contributions and an independent copy the family can keep.
What makes a family tree private?
A private family tree is not merely a public tree with an obscure link. Access should be tied to individual invited accounts, family records should stay out of search results, and the service should make clear who can browse, contribute and administer the archive.
Protect living relatives first
Information about living people deserves the strictest boundary. Record only what the family needs, explain who can see it, avoid unnecessary sensitive detail and provide a clear route for correction or removal.
Choose contribution over unrestricted editing
Relatives often hold valuable corrections, photographs and context. A contribution workflow welcomes that knowledge while letting a trusted family steward compare the suggestion with the current record before accepting it.
Keep sources and change history
A trustworthy tree distinguishes a certificate, photograph, interview, family book and remembered tradition. Keeping the source beside the fact—and a history of important changes—helps future relatives understand why the record says what it says.
Plan for stewardship succession
A private archive should not depend forever on one person’s email account or laptop. Name another trusted steward, review access periodically and decide how responsibility will be handed on.
Keep an independent export
Privacy also means avoiding lock-in. Retain the original source material and download a current GEDCOM after meaningful changes so the family has a portable genealogy outside the service.