Helping with a family tree on Roots We Planted — what to expect
Someone invited you to add part of their family history. Here's the full picture, at your own pace.
Why someone might have invited you
Roots We Planted projects are built by one person, but a family tree is never one person's to remember. Invitations go out for a few common reasons:
- A cousin or relative. You and the person who invited you share an ancestor — a grandparent or great-grandparent, say — and you can fill in the branch on your side that they don't know in detail.
- A spouse or partner. You're building a shared family. You can add your shared children and grandchildren, and also your own side of the family, which connects to theirs through the two of you.
- A more distant connection. A great-aunt, a half-sibling, a niece — anyone who joins the tree through an existing person. You add the relatives who branch off from there.
What you can and can't do
Your role is lighter than it sounds. In short:
the person who invited you is putting together a Roots We Planted family history project, and they've asked you to help with the part of the tree that connects to your shared relative. Here's what your role looks like — it's lighter than you might think.
What you'll be doing
Add your branch.
You can add ancestors who connect through your shared relative. You won't need to recreate the parts of the tree the person who invited you has already filled in.
Upload what you have.
Photos, scanned documents, audio recordings, written stories — anything that helps tell the story of the people you add. The same tools the owner uses are available to you.
See it all in one place.
You can view the whole the family tree at any time. Branches added by other relatives are visible to you, even though you can't edit them.
Take your time.
Nothing has to happen quickly. Add one person, come back next week, add another. Your progress is saved as you go.
How your additions become part of the tree
Everything you add starts as a proposal that the project owner reviews before it appears in the final tree. This isn't a hierarchy thing — it's a quality safeguard, the same one a genealogist would do. You'll see your additions on your own view right away, marked "Proposed." When the project owner approves, the marking disappears. If they ask for a small change, you'll know and can update it.
Your privacy
Accepting this invitation only gives the project owner access to what you add to this project. They cannot see anything else in your Roots We Planted account, your other projects (if any), or your contacts. You can leave the project at any time, and the work you contributed stays with the family. We never sell or share your data.
Before you start
A small tip: a handful of accurate details beats a lot of guesswork. If you're unsure of a birth year, leave it blank — our genealogists can often verify dates later. If you have a photo but don't know who's in it, add it anyway and note "needs identifying" in the description; the project owner or other relatives may recognise them.
How proposals and reviews work
Unless the owner has marked you as a trusted contributor, everything you add starts as a proposal. On your own view it appears right away with a dashed border and a small “Proposed” label. The owner sees it too, and approves it when they're ready — at which point the dashed border becomes solid and the label disappears. If they'd like a small change first, you'll be told and can update it. None of this is a hierarchy thing; it's the same quality check a genealogist would do.
Some owners set close family — a spouse, a sibling — as a trusted contributor. When that's the case, your additions go straight into the tree with no waiting. The owner can still see everything you add and adjust anything if needed. A spouse is often set this way by default, because you're usually building the tree side by side.
Common questions
Do I need an account?
Yes — a free Roots We Planted account, so your contributions are saved and tied to you. Creating one takes a moment, and the invitation link brings you straight back to where you left off.
Will I be able to see the whole family tree, or just my branch?
You can see the whole tree at any time. You can only edit your own branch, but branches added by other relatives are visible to you.
What happens if the owner doesn't approve something I added?
They might ask for a small change first — you'll be told what, and can update it. If they decide not to include something, it's moved to a “Rejected” tab on your view (never deleted), and you're welcome to propose an alternative.
I'm contributing to my spouse's project — does that mean they're the boss?
No. The approval step is a genealogy quality check, not a statement about your relationship. Many owners set their spouse as a trusted contributor, so additions go live immediately with no review at all.
Can I delete something I proposed?
While a node is still proposed (not yet approved), you can edit it freely. If you've changed your mind about a person entirely, ask the owner — they can remove it.
Can I invite people, too?
Not directly — only the project owner can send invitations. But you can suggest names to them, and they can invite anyone you point them to.
What if I find a mistake in a part of the tree I can't edit?
Mention it to the owner. You can't edit other people's branches, but the owner (or the relative who added that branch) can correct it.
What happens if I lose interest or get busy?
Nothing is lost. Your progress is saved as you go, the work you've contributed stays with the family, and you can come back whenever you like — next week or next year.
Is my contact info shared with the whole family?
No. Accepting an invitation only gives the owner access to what you add to that one project. Your email and account details aren't shared with other relatives.
What's the difference between a 'standard' and 'trusted' contributor?
A standard contributor's additions wait for the owner's approval before joining the shared tree. A trusted contributor's additions go live immediately. The owner chooses, and can change it at any time.
Privacy and data
Accepting an invitation gives the project owner access only to what you add to that project — nothing else from your Roots We Planted account, your other projects, or your contacts. You can leave the project at any time, and the work you contributed stays with the family. We never sell or share your data.
How to leave the project
You can step away at any time. Open the project from your dashboard, and you'll find the option to leave. The branch you contributed remains with the family tree; leaving simply removes your editing access.