Can you put a family member as a reference?
If you've worked in a family -owned business for a number of years and your boss happens to be a family member, you can certainly list them as a reference. The less formal and less longstanding the employment arrangement, the more problematic a reference from a family member gets.
Can a friend be a reference?
Friends can make excellent professional and personal references for your job search.
Do I need permission to list a reference?
While you can list anyone you'd like as a reference, it definitely isn't a good idea to do so without asking them for permission first. Giving a potential reference a heads up can only benefit you by giving them time to think about how they might answer questions about your character and performance.