Socioemotional wealth (SEW) preservation is likely to be a key determinant for family firms to shape their dividend policy. This paper analyzes how family-centered goals captured by SEW influence on dividend policy in private family firms, exploring as well the moderating role on these relationships of family involvement in management, generational stage, and firm hazard. Results indicate a negative association between SEW preservation and both the likelihood of giving dividends and the amount of dividend paid. This negative relationship is stronger when the CEO is a family member, in early generational stages and when the firm faces greater performance hazard. The amount of dividend paid is also lower when there are family members in other top management positions beyond the CEO. Thus, the evidence provided suggests that the existing heterogeneity regarding dividend policy in the context of privately held family firms is strongly driven by differences in SEW priorities.