---
title: "Family Charter | Altss Glossary"
description: "A family charter is a guiding document that outlines a family’s shared values, purpose, and principles for wealth stewardship and decision-making."
canonical: "https://altss.com/glossary/family-charter"
---

Family Office Governance

# Family Charter

Publisher: Altss LLCPublished 2026-01-02Content modified 2026-01-06

A family charter is a guiding document that outlines a family’s shared values, purpose, and principles for wealth stewardship and decision-making.

**Allocator relevance:** **Signals governance maturity and helps explain mandate, risk posture, and decision behavior inside a family office.**

### Expanded Definition

A family charter is often a values-first document: why the family manages wealth the way it does, what outcomes matter (preservation, impact, entrepreneurship), and what behaviors are expected across generations. It may be non-binding but still operationally influential because it shapes how investment decisions are filtered and how conflicts are handled.

In allocator contexts, charter clarity often correlates with long-term consistency and lower governance friction.

### How It Works in Practice

Families create charters through facilitated governance processes, then use the charter as a reference for investment policy decisions, philanthropic posture, and succession planning. It may be reviewed periodically as the family grows or leadership shifts.

### Decision Authority and Governance

The charter supports governance by clarifying decision rights and expectations. It often works alongside a family council or constitution and can influence how authority is delegated to investment teams or external advisors.

### Common Misconceptions

- A charter replaces formal legal documents.

- Families with charters never have disputes.

- A charter automatically defines investment strategy.

### Key Takeaways

- A charter is values + decision principles, not a portfolio plan.

- It improves consistency across generations.

- It provides context for mandate fit and risk tolerance.

## Related terms

[Principal](https://altss.com/glossary/principal)[Investment Policy Statement (IPS)](https://altss.com/glossary/investment-policy-statement)[Family Council](https://altss.com/glossary/family-council)[Family Constitution](https://altss.com/glossary/family-constitution)

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