> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.uplifter.app/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How do I accept a family invitation, and what happens if I merge families?

> Accept or decline a family invitation with the invited email, join on your own or merge a family you manage, and see what a merge brings over.

<Note>
  **Must know**

  * **Use the invited email.** Only the address the invitation was sent to can accept it, whether you sign in or sign up.
  * **Join or merge.** With an existing account, you can join on your own or merge a family you manage into theirs. A merge shows a preview first and can't be undone: your family becomes part of theirs and no longer exists separately. Combined family pricing then applies automatically and may increase future charges.
  * **New to Uplifter?** You create your account on the invitation page and join in the same step. No phone number is asked.
  * **Invitations expire after 7 days.** An expired, used or revoked invitation can't be accepted, so ask the family for a new one.
</Note>

**What accepting joins.** A family invitation adds you to the whole family, not one athlete. Nothing changes until you accept. The email, "You have a family invitation on Uplifter", has a **Review invitation** button.

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="You already have an account">
    <Steps>
      <Step title="Open the invitation">
        Sign in with the invited email. In the family portal, open **Family** (on phones, under **More**) and find "Invitation from \[family name]" under **Waiting for a response**. Or choose **Review invitation** in the email; if you're signed out, choose **Sign in** there.
      </Step>

      <Step title="Choose how to join">
        On the email link's **Join \[family name]** page, choose **Join on my own** or **Merge a family I manage**. To merge, pick the family under **Family to merge** (if you manage more than one), review **After the merge**, and tick **I agree to merge these families as shown.** On your Family page, **Accept invitation** always joins on your own.
      </Step>

      <Step title="Accept or decline">
        Choose **Accept invitation** or, for a merge, **Accept and merge families**. The email link then shows "You're connected" and **Go to Family**. **Decline** adds no membership or access.
      </Step>
    </Steps>
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="You're new to Uplifter">
    <Steps>
      <Step title="Accept, then pick how to sign up">
        Open the email link. On **Join \[family name]**, tick the box accepting the invitation, then choose **Continue with Microsoft** or **Continue with Google**, or use your email.
      </Step>

      <Step title="Verify your email">
        Enter the **Invited email address**, choose **Send verification code**, enter the **Verification code**, then **Verify email**.
      </Step>

      <Step title="Create your account">
        Enter your **Full name**, **Password** and **Confirm password**, accept the terms, and choose **Create account and join family**. Your account is created already joined.
      </Step>
    </Steps>
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

**What each choice does.** **Join on my own** adds you to their family and keeps your other families separate. **Merge a family I manage** moves a family you own or co-manage into theirs, with its people, relationships, purchases and shared access.

**What a merge shows.** **After the merge** lists people and roles, relationships, and counts of **Registrations**, **Passes and punch cards**, **Billing schedules** and **Shared access**. Incoming owners and co-managers become guardians, and you get your invited role. Purchases, pass balances and billing agreements carry over, and payers stay responsible. You can leave out conflicting relationships.

**Athlete account invitations.** You need an existing adult account with your own athlete profile. Signing up shows "This invitation requires an existing adult athlete account." To accept, tick the box agreeing to share your profile, including medical information, with the family's guardians.

**Shared access is different.** A "Shared access invitation" covers one athlete, and you keep your own family. If you're new to Uplifter, you choose **Create account and accept access**. It never lets you sign waivers.

**If you can't accept.** Another signed-in account sees "This family isn't available"; switch to the invited email. If your own athlete profile shows you're under 18, you can't accept a family invitation. A declined or revoked link says the invitation is no longer available, and an expired one drops off your Family page.

**Related:** [How do I invite someone to my family?](/families/families-household/invite-someone-to-your-family) · [What is a family, and who can see my athletes?](/families/families-household/what-is-a-family) · [How do I get added to an athlete already at the club?](/families/families-getting-started/get-added-to-an-existing-athlete) · [How do I give someone limited access to one of my athletes?](/families/families-household/share-access-to-an-athlete)