Family office
Also called: single-family office, multi-family office
ELI5
A private organisation investing a family's wealth.
Used in conversation
“The family office invests with a longer time horizon.”
Definition
An organisation managing wealth, investments and affairs for one or more wealthy families.
Here “Family office” means: An organisation managing wealth, investments and affairs for one or more wealthy families.
Pitch context
You will see “Family office” in fundraising decks, data rooms, term sheets and investor conversations when the discussion reaches investor & fund types.
Why it matters: In investor & fund types, a loose definition can change rights, obligations, approval, disclosure or enforceability.
Caution
Meaning, enforceability and required process vary by jurisdiction and agreement; this definition is not legal advice.
Sources & evidence · 6
Direct term-level sources and supporting source families.
- U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission — Accredited InvestorsDirect source · primary · checked 2026-08-16
- U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission — Small Business Capital Formation GlossaryDirect source · primary · checked 2026-08-16
- U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission — Exempt OfferingsSupporting source family · primary · checked 2026-08-16
- National Venture Capital Association — Model Legal DocumentsSupporting source family · institutional · checked 2026-08-16
- Y Combinator — Safe financing documentsSupporting source family · practitioner · checked 2026-08-16
- Y Combinator — Series A Term Sheet TemplateSupporting source family · practitioner · checked 2026-08-16