Checking connections
Found a Relative in an Online Family Tree? Check These Details Before Adding Them
Evaluate a possible family tree match using relationships, dates and traceable evidence before attaching an unfamiliar branch to your own tree.
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Treat the match as a starting question
An online tree may contain a person whose name resembles someone in your family. That can be a useful lead, but a shared name does not establish a shared identity. Before adding the branch, write down the question you need to answer: Is this the same person as my grandmother’s brother? Keeping the question explicit helps you compare evidence instead of following an attractive-looking chain of names.
Save enough context to find the claim again
Record the page location, the date you reviewed it and the specific relationship being proposed. Note whether the page identifies sources or simply presents a conclusion. Keep your own summary of the claim rather than copying a large section of someone else’s research. A reference that can be revisited is more useful than a screenshot whose origin you can no longer identify.
Compare the people around the name
Look at parents, siblings, a partner and children where those details are available. Compare them with information you have already checked for your own relative. Similar names may occur in different generations or branches. A mismatch in a close relationship is a reason to pause and investigate, not something to overlook because the surname and approximate birthplace fit.
Check dates without forcing a fit
Compare the proposed person’s life events with your own notes, keeping estimates separate from exact dates. Ask whether the sequence is plausible and what supports it. An unexplained difference should remain a difference until you can investigate it. Do not alter your existing dates simply to align them with a newly found tree that appears more complete.
Check the source behind the assertion
If a tree cites a document, try to establish what the document actually says about the person or relationship. A citation label alone is not the same as having examined the evidence. Several online trees may repeat a claim from the same place, so agreement between them may not be independent support. Keep that limitation visible in your research notes.
Consider alternative explanations
Ask whether the name could refer to another local family, a cousin or someone from a different generation. Compare place spellings and the period involved. Record what would distinguish the candidates rather than choosing the one with the longest attached branch. If the available information cannot settle the identity, keep the proposed match in a research log instead of inserting it as a confirmed relative.
Add a supported connection gradually
When you have enough support, add the relevant person to Family Tree Builder and check the relationship in context. Review one generation at a time rather than treating an entire attached branch as verified. Keep detailed sources and uncertainties separately organized. The visual tree helps you understand your conclusions; its appearance does not turn a tentative connection into an established fact.
Build confidence before building a bigger tree
Create your free Family Tree Builder account and begin with the branch you can explain from your own checked information. Use possible online matches to guide future questions, while keeping uncertain identities outside the confirmed branch. When the project grows, explore the paid plan to see whether it supports your next step. A smaller tree with relationships you can defend is a stronger foundation for a family record you intend to keep.
Keep exploring: How to start a family tree · 25 questions to ask your grandparents