What Is an Answer File?
An Answer File is the stored set of responses collected during a drafting interview. It is the data source that generates your documents. Think of the Answer File as the structured record of a plan. The documents are the output — the Answer File is the information driving them.
Each Answer File represents one plan structure, not simply one relationship status. Understanding how relationship status and plan structure interact is especially important when drafting for couples.
Relationship Status vs. Plan Structure
In Agile EP:
Relationship status (single, married, unmarried couple) determines which questions appear in the interview.
Plan structure (single, mirrored, or separate) determines how many Answer Files and document sets are created.
These are two distinct concepts.
Single Person
If the client is single:
One interview
One Answer File
One set of documents
This is a simple one-to-one structure.
Married Couple – Mirrored Plan
If the clients are married and you select a Mirrored Plan:
One interview
One shared Answer File
Two sets of documents
Both spouses’ documents are generated from the same data. Changes affect both parties’ documents.
This structure is designed for identical or substantially identical plans.
Married Couple – Separate Plans
If the clients are married but you select a Separate (Non-Mirrored) Plan:
One interview framework
Two distinct Answer Files
Two independent sets of documents
Each spouse has their own drafting record and plan structure.
Unmarried Couple – Flexible Structure
Unmarried couples can function similarly to either married mirrored plans or separate plans, depending on the template selected.
In other words, relationship status (unmarried) does not automatically determine the Answer File structure.
Depending on the template:
You may have one shared Answer File generating two coordinated document sets, or
You may have two independent Answer Files, one for each partner
The structure depends on whether the selected plan is mirrored or separate. Even when using a shared framework, each partner’s planning decisions should be reviewed carefully to ensure they reflect the intended legal structure.