Building a family tree that stays alive
A family tree is only worth something while someone still knows who is who. Here is how to build yours without getting lost, and how to keep it alive by attaching photos, voices and stories to every name.
Start with the living, not with the ancestors
Most trees stall because they start too far back. Begin with yourself, then your parents, then your grandparents. Three well-documented generations beat ten generations of faceless names.
For each person, record just three things to begin: the full name actually used, an approximate birth year, and the relationship to you.
Ask the elders while you still can
One generation holds details nobody wrote down: a great-aunt’s nickname, the reason behind a move, the village everyone came from. Those details vanish within a few years.
Record those conversations instead of summarizing them. A voice is still understandable fifty years later; a hurried note usually is not.
- Who carried this first name before me, and why?
- Where did the family come from, and what made them leave?
- What did my grandparents actually do all day?
- Which photograph best explains that period?
Attach documents to people
A tree becomes useful when every name carries something: a photo, a record, a recipe, an audio clip. Without that, it stays a diagram of boxes.
In Solexi, each person in the tree can hold memories and documents. You click a name and see a life, not a date range.
Avoid the mistakes that stall everything
Two spellings of one surname, a guessed date written as fact, a namesake mistaken for someone else: these errors get copied forward and become impossible to untangle.
Always mark what is confirmed and what is uncertain. An honest "around 1932" is worth more than a wrong date that looks authoritative.
Pricing, in plain words
- 14 days free, 1 GB included during the trial
- Then CAD $199, one time only
- Lifetime access, 10 GB included
- No monthly subscription, no renewal
Frequently asked questions
Where do I start a family tree?
With yourself, then parents and grandparents. Complete three generations before reaching further back, otherwise the tree stays thin exactly where it matters most.
Do I need official records for every person?
No. A family tree is not a civil registry file. Official records confirm dates, but photos and stories are what give the names meaning.
How should I note uncertain information?
Write it down as it is, flagged as unconfirmed. A lead marked uncertain stays useful; a guess presented as fact corrupts everything built on top of it.
Can my family help build the tree?
Yes. You invite the people you choose and decide what each of them can view or add. The missing piece is often held by a cousin or an aunt.
Solexi does not replace a legal will, a notary or a lawyer. Solexi helps you gather, organize and pass on your information.