Free genogram template

Single Parent Family Genogram Template

One parent raising children, the other parent still on the chart, and the grandparents who help.

Updated October 2026 · PDF, PowerPoint, PNG and SVG · no sign-up

Quick answer

A single parent family genogram template shows one parent and the children living with them inside a household boundary, the other parent connected by an ended partner line (separation, divorce, never married or widowed), and the grandparents above. Keeping the absent parent on the chart shows where the children come from and who is missing.

Open in GenogramAI (free) Download blank PDF

Download the single parent family genogram template

Free files, no sign-up or email. Print the blank, edit the PowerPoint, or reuse the example image with a credit to genogramai.com.

When to use a single parent family genogram template

Use this template when children live with one parent: after separation or divorce, after a parent’s death, or where the parents never lived together. The household boundary goes around the parent and children, while the other parent stays on the page with an ended partner line. That keeps the absent parent’s family history, and the children’s contact with that side, in view.

Single-parent families often depend on a grandparent, a sibling or a neighbour for daily care, and older children sometimes take on adult roles. Use emotional lines for those supports and for parentification, and note work hours, money pressure and childcare arrangements, which are usually more important here than in a two-parent household.

If the parent has a new partner living in the home, the family is blended and the Blended Family Genogram Template fits better. If a grandparent is the main carer, try the Multigenerational Household Genogram Template or, if the case is open to services, the Child Welfare Genogram Template.

The blank template and a filled-in example

Left: the blank printable. Right: the same template filled in for a fictional family in GenogramAI.

Blank single parent family genogram template: A mother with two children inside a dashed household boundary; the children’s father joined to her by an ended partner line (separation or never married); maternal grandparents above. A key with partner lines including separation, divorce and widowed, plus the household boundary. — Blank: A mother with two children inside a dashed household boundary; the children’s father joined to her by an ended partner line (separation or never married); maternal grandparents above. A key with partner lines including separation, divorce and widowed, plus the household boundary.

Single Parent Family Genogram Template filled in: Single Parent Family Genogram drawn in GenogramAI with a genogram key — Filled in: The completed example is a fictional family in which Shannon raises three children after her husband Michael’s sudden death. Her mother Margaret is a close, practical support; the eldest, Ryan (b. 2010, the index person), has taken on a parental role and his relationship with his mother is shown as fused. Depression, anxiety and heart disease appear across the generations. Read the full example

Open this example in GenogramAI to start from the finished layout: it copies into your account (the Free plan holds 2 genograms) and every person, line and condition stays editable.

How to fill in a single parent family genogram template

1
Draw the parent and children
Place the resident parent and hang the children from the couple line, oldest on the left.
2
Add the other parent
Draw them on the partner line and end it with the right symbol: separation, divorce or widowed, with the year.
3
Add grandparents and helpers
Add the resident parent’s parents above and anyone who helps with care.
4
Enclose the household and add feelings
Draw the household boundary and add emotional lines, especially support and any parentified child.

Symbols this template uses

Drawn the way GenogramAI draws them. Every other symbol is in the genogram symbols guide and the genogram key.

Symbol	What it means
Dashed household enclosure	Who lives together: the parent and the children.
Dashed partner line with one slash	Physical separation of a couple who lived together without marrying.
Two slashes on a solid line	Divorce.
X across the partner line	Widowed: the partnership ended with a death. The deceased partner also has an X through their symbol.
Three red lines	Fused: an enmeshed relationship, for example a parent leaning on the eldest child.
Two blue lines	Close: a supportive bond, such as with a grandparent who helps with care.

Common mistakes to avoid

Leaving the other parent off because they are absent. Their side of the family is still the children’s history.
Drawing the children under one parent with no line to the other. Hang them from the couple line, then end the couple line.
Missing the helpers. A grandparent who does school runs belongs on the chart with a close line.
Not recording why the partnership ended. Separation, divorce and death carry different meanings for the children.

Who uses this template?

Family therapists, school counselors, child and family social workers, health visitors and community nurses.

Common uses

Assessing support around a single parent
Grief work after a parent’s death
Parentification and role reversal in older children
School referrals and attendance concerns
Contact planning with the non-resident parent’s family

What the template covers

Parent with two children inside a household boundary
Other parent on an ended partner line
Maternal grandparents
Key with separation, divorce, widowed and household symbols
Editable PowerPoint and SVG versions

What is free?

Free and paid, plainly

All five files on this page (blank PDF, PowerPoint, SVG, example PDF and PNG) are free to download and use, with no sign-up. In GenogramAI, the Free plan includes 2 genograms, 5 AI credits a month, all 64 relationship types, medical shading and PNG export, with no card. PDF, SVG and GEDCOM export, file import and photo import are on paid plans; Professional is $12/month.

Frequently asked questions

How do you draw a single parent family on a genogram?

Draw both parents with the children hanging from their partner line, end that line with the right symbol (separation, divorce or widowed), and enclose the parent and children who live together with a dashed household line.

Should the absent parent be on the genogram?

Yes. Even with no contact, the other parent is half of the children’s family history. If their identity is unknown, draw an unknown symbol so the gap is recorded.

How do you show a parent who never married?

Use a dashed partner line (cohabitation) or a dating line, ended with a slash if they lived together and separated. Write the years.

How do you show a child taking on a parent role?

Use an emotional line between the parent and child, often fused or caretaker, and note the responsibilities the child carries.