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Genogram Marriage Symbol
The marriage symbol is shown as a solid horizontal line connecting two partners' shapes in EasyGenogram. Use it to show a formal couple relationship and to anchor child connection lines beneath the couple. This guide explains placement, children connections, and when cohabitation, engagement, separation, or divorce notation is more accurate.
Marriage Symbol Example in a Genogram
Marriage Symbol Example in a Genogram
Michael Ortiz and Jenna Ortiz are married, connected by a solid line, with their two children, Lily and Sam, descending from the sibship line beneath them.
Placement
The general convention places the male partner on the left and the female partner on the right.
However, in EasyGenogram, there's flexibility built in, given the wider set of gender identity shapes available beyond just square and circle.
Follow the convention where it applies cleanly, and place partners in whatever order makes the most sense for the specific couple otherwise.
How Children Connect
The marriage line anchors a sibship line beneath it, and biological, adopted, or foster child connections descend from that line, in birth order.
See the Adoption Symbol and Foster Child Symbol pages for how those specific connection types are drawn.
Marriage vs. Cohabitation vs. Engagement
- Marriage: solid line.
- Cohabitation: dashed blue line with a small home marker.
- Engagement: dashed blue line, no home marker.
How to Add It in EasyGenogram
Select the two people and choose Marriage from the couple line options.
The solid line appears between them, ready to anchor any children below.
Marriage Symbol Example in a Genogram
Explore this genogram and adapt it to your needs.
FAQ
What does the marriage symbol look like on a genogram?
A solid horizontal line connecting the two partners' shapes.
Does it matter which partner goes on the left?
Convention places the male partner on the left and female on the right, but in EasyGenogram, there's flexibility, given the wider range of gender identity shapes available.
How do children connect to a married couple?
Through a sibship line beneath the marriage line. Biological, adopted, or foster connections descend from it in birth order.
What's the difference between the marriage and cohabitation symbols on genograms?
Marriage is a solid line. Cohabitation is a dashed blue line with a small home marker in the middle.
What's the difference between marriage and engagement symbols on genograms?
Marriage is a solid line. Engagement is a dashed blue line without the home marker used for cohabitation.