Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to focus on the family protocol as a governance policy tool that can help ameliorate intra-family conflict and enhance the probabilities of survivability of the family business. Design/methodology/approach – Using equity theory and organizational justice as theoretical frameworks, the authors explain how and why the development of a protocol can help the family firm and their survivability. The authors combine academic and practitioner knowledge to present a process model for creating family protocols. Findings – Based on four important considerations (i.e. process view, deep knowledge about the family business, dynamic environment, and the need for change and adaptation) the authors develop a process model for the development of family tailored protocols. Originality/value – This paper integrates the work of practitioners and academics to help understand what is a family protocol, why and how the protocol affects the family and business relationships and presents a procedural model for the development of a family protocol that can help govern the relationship between the family and the business.