Understanding contact relationship types
When you link a contact to a client, you define the relationship between them — for example, whether they are the director of a company, a trustee of a trust, or a spouse in a family client. The available relationship types depend on the client's entity type.
Relationship types by entity type
Individual
RelationshipWhen to use
Self
The contact is the individual client themselves
Spouse
The client's spouse
Partner
The client's domestic partner
Power of Attorney
A person with legal authority to act for the client
Other
Any other relationship
Sole Trader
RelationshipWhen to use
Self
The contact is the sole trader themselves
Business Partner
A co-owner or key business associate
Power of Attorney
A person with legal authority to act for the client
Other
Any other relationship
Company
RelationshipWhen to use
Director
A director of the company
Business Partner
A co-owner or key business associate
Trustee
A trustee connected to the company
Power of Attorney
A person with legal authority to act for the company
Other
Any other relationship
Family
RelationshipWhen to use
Spouse
The primary client's spouse
Partner
The primary client's domestic partner
Child
A child of the family group
Parent
A parent of the family group
Sibling
A sibling of the family group
Other
Any other relationship
Trust
RelationshipWhen to use
Trustee
A trustee of the trust
Beneficiary
A beneficiary of the trust
Power of Attorney
A person with legal authority to act for the trust
Other
Any other relationship
Relationship type and primary contact
The relationship type does not affect which contact is the primary contact — that is set separately. A primary contact can hold any relationship type.