Giving the Family File
It's an unusual gift to wrap, and a thoughtful one to give. Here's how sending one works, and a few gentle ways to bring it up.
Dad,
I filled in mine last month and it was a relief. No pressure, but I'd love to sit with you for the first ten pages next time I'm over.
Love, Jess
Example gift noteHow sending a gift works
Any printed book can ship straight to someone else with your note, at no extra charge.
-
Choose a printed book
The Family File, the Next Steps File, Essentials or the Complete Set. For the Family File, type their family name for the cover.
-
Tick "Send it as a gift"
Add who it's for and a short note, up to 300 characters. We include your note with the book.
-
Enter their address at checkout
Use their address as the shipping address. One order ships to one address, so check out once for each person.
How to bring it up
Most of this conversation is logistics: the insurance agent's name, the drawer with the deed, who has a spare key. Keep it there, and it gets much easier.
Do yours first
It's easier to ask someone to do something you've already done. "I just filled mine in, and I realized I don't know where any of your stuff is" is an honest opener, and it isn't about them getting older.
Ask where, not what
Nobody has to show you a balance or read you their will. The Family File asks where things are and who to call. Say so up front: "I don't need to know what's in it. I just want to know where it is."
Start with the First Ten
One sitting, ten answers, then stop. A short first session that ends well is worth more than a long one that wears everyone out.
Offer to be the scribe
Some people would rather talk than write. You hold the pen; they tell the stories. File 14, Letters & Legacy, may be the part your family treasures most.
Let them pick the two people
The file asks you to tell two people where it lives. It doesn't have to be you. What matters is that someone knows.
"Mom, if you were in the hospital for a week, I'd want to pay your bills and feed the cat without guessing. Can we write down where things are?"
Other good moments to give one
- A new baby. New parents suddenly have guardianship wishes and life insurance to think about. The file gives them one place to record where it all is.
- A wedding or a move. Two households becoming one is the perfect time to write down whose accounts are where.
- A retirement. New pensions, Medicare, and an old 401(k) or two to keep track of.
- After a loss in the family. The Next Steps File helps whoever is handling things now. The Family File can help everyone else get their own records in order afterward.
Giving to clients instead of family? See For professionals for co-branded copies and gift codes.
Gift questions
Can I send a book to someone else as a gift?
Yes, at no extra charge. Choose a printed book, tick “Send it as a gift,” add their name and a short note, and enter their address as the shipping address at checkout. One order ships to one address, so check out separately for each person you're sending to. Ideas for giving it.
What goes on the cover?
Your family name, set in Caslon on a card in a brass label holder. Type Alvarez and the cover reads “The Alvarez Family File.” You have up to 24 characters: letters, spaces, hyphens, apostrophes, periods and the ampersand. Leave it blank and the cover reads “The Family File.”
How long does shipping take?
Printed books are made to order: Printed in 3–5 business days; tracked delivery usually within 2 weeks. We'll email you tracking when your book ships. The fillable PDF is ready the moment you check out.
Can I order more than one copy?
Yes, up to 10 of the same book in one order. One for each household works well: yours, your parents', a sibling's. Each household fills in its own.
Do you ship outside the US?
Not yet. Printed books ship to US addresses only. The fillable PDF works anywhere, though some parts, like Social Security and Medicare, are written for US families.