diff --git a/python/seaserv/api.py b/python/seaserv/api.py
index e9bfc08..1ac58c2 100644
--- a/python/seaserv/api.py
+++ b/python/seaserv/api.py
@@ -822,6 +822,15 @@ class CcnetAPI(object):
         """
         return ccnet_threaded_rpc.search_groups(group_patt, start, limit)
 
+    def get_top_groups(self):
+        return ccnet_threaded_rpc.get_top_groups()
+
+    def get_child_groups(self, group_id):
+        return ccnet_threaded_rpc.get_child_groups(group_id)
+
+    def get_ancestor_groups(self, group_id):
+        return ccnet_threaded_rpc.get_ancestor_groups(group_id)
+
     def search_ldapusers(self, keyword, start, limit):
         """
         Search for users whose name contains @keyword directly from LDAP server.
@@ -863,14 +872,14 @@ class CcnetAPI(object):
         return ccnet_threaded_rpc.get_superusers()
 
     # group management
-    def create_group(self, group_name, user_name, gtype=None):
+    def create_group(self, group_name, user_name, gtype=None, parent_group_id=0):
         """
         For CE, gtype is not used and should always be None.
         """
-        return ccnet_threaded_rpc.create_group(group_name, user_name, gtype)
+        return ccnet_threaded_rpc.create_group(group_name, user_name, gtype, parent_group_id)
 
-    def create_org_group(self, org_id, group_name, user_name):
-        return ccnet_threaded_rpc.create_org_group(org_id, group_name, user_name)
+    def create_org_group(self, org_id, group_name, user_name, parent_group_id=0):
+        return ccnet_threaded_rpc.create_org_group(org_id, group_name, user_name, parent_group_id)
     
     def remove_group(self, group_id):
         """
@@ -908,12 +917,12 @@ class CcnetAPI(object):
     def quit_group(self, group_id, user_name):
         return ccnet_threaded_rpc.quit_group(group_id, user_name)
 
-    def get_groups(self, user_name):
+    def get_groups(self, user_name, return_ancestors=False):
         """
         Get all groups the user belongs to.
         Return: a list of Group objects (ccnet/lib/ccnetobj.vala)
         """
-        return ccnet_threaded_rpc.get_groups(user_name)
+        return ccnet_threaded_rpc.get_groups(user_name, 1 if return_ancestors else 0)
 
     def get_all_groups(self, start, limit, source=None):
         """
@@ -1009,6 +1018,9 @@ class CcnetAPI(object):
         """
         return ccnet_threaded_rpc.get_org_groups(org_id, start, limit)
     
+    def get_org_top_groups(self, org_id):
+        return ccnet_threaded_rpc.get_org_top_groups(org_id)
+
     def org_user_exists(self, org_id, email):
         """
         Return non-zero if True, otherwise 0.
diff --git a/tests/test_groups.py b/tests/test_groups.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..49880b1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_groups.py
@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+import pytest
+from seaserv import seafile_api as api
+from seaserv import ccnet_api
+
+from tests.config import USER, USER2
+
+def test_multi_tier_groups(repo):
+    id1 = ccnet_api.create_group('group1', USER, parent_group_id=-1)
+    id2 = ccnet_api.create_group('group2', USER2, parent_group_id = id1)
+    id3 = ccnet_api.create_group('group3', USER, parent_group_id = id1)
+    id4 = ccnet_api.create_group('group4', USER2, parent_group_id = id3)
+    id5 = ccnet_api.create_group('group5', USER2, parent_group_id = 0)
+    assert id1 != -1 and id2 != -1 and id3 != -1 and id4 != -1
+
+    group1 = ccnet_api.get_group(id1)
+    group2 = ccnet_api.get_group(id2)
+    group3 = ccnet_api.get_group(id3)
+    group4 = ccnet_api.get_group(id4)
+    assert group1.parent_group_id == -1
+    assert group2.parent_group_id == id1
+    assert group3.parent_group_id == id1
+    assert group4.parent_group_id == id3
+
+    ances_order = [id5, id4, id3, id2, id1]
+    user2_groups_with_ancestors = ccnet_api.get_groups (USER2, return_ancestors = True)
+    assert len(user2_groups_with_ancestors) == 5
+    i = 0
+    for g in user2_groups_with_ancestors:
+        assert g.id == ances_order[i]
+        i = i + 1
+
+    order = [id5, id4, id2]
+    i = 0
+    user2_groups = ccnet_api.get_groups (USER2)
+    assert len(user2_groups) == 3
+    for g in user2_groups:
+        assert g.id == order[i]
+        i = i + 1
+
+    top_groups = ccnet_api.get_top_groups()
+    assert len(top_groups) == 1
+    for g in top_groups:
+        assert g.parent_group_id == -1
+
+    child_order = [id2, id3]
+    i = 0
+    id1_children = ccnet_api.get_child_groups(id1)
+    assert len(id1_children) == 2
+    for g in id1_children:
+        assert g.id == child_order[i]
+        i = i + 1
+
+    group4_order = [id1, id3, id4]
+    i = 0
+    group4_ancestors = ccnet_api.get_ancestor_groups(id4)
+    assert len(group4_ancestors) == 3
+    for g in group4_ancestors:
+        assert g.id == group4_order[i]
+        i = i + 1
+
+    rm5 = ccnet_api.remove_group(id5)
+    rm4 = ccnet_api.remove_group(id4)
+    rm3 = ccnet_api.remove_group(id3)
+    rm2 = ccnet_api.remove_group(id2)
+    rm1 = ccnet_api.remove_group(id1)
+    assert rm5 == 0 and rm4 == 0 and rm3 == 0 and rm2 == 0 and rm1 == 0