diff --git a/libs/core/kiln_ai/datamodel/basemodel.py b/libs/core/kiln_ai/datamodel/basemodel.py
index 64ccb30..4010d6f 100644
--- a/libs/core/kiln_ai/datamodel/basemodel.py
+++ b/libs/core/kiln_ai/datamodel/basemodel.py
@@ -2,7 +2,12 @@
 from typing import Optional
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Type, TypeVar
+from abc import ABCMeta, abstractmethod
+import uuid
 
+
+# ID is a 10 digit hex string
+ID_FIELD = Field(default_factory=lambda: uuid.uuid4().hex[:10].upper())
 T = TypeVar("T", bound="KilnBaseModel")
 
 
@@ -32,15 +37,61 @@ def load_from_file(cls: Type[T], path: Path) -> T:
         return m
 
     def save_to_file(self) -> None:
-        if self.path is None:
+        path = self.build_path()
+        if path is None:
             raise ValueError(
                 f"Cannot save to file because 'path' is not set. Class: {self.__class__.__name__}, "
-                f"id: {getattr(self, 'id', None)}, path: {self.path}"
+                f"id: {getattr(self, 'id', None)}, path: {path}"
             )
+        path.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
         json_data = self.model_dump_json(indent=2)
-        with open(self.path, "w") as file:
+        with open(path, "w") as file:
             file.write(json_data)
+        # save the path so even if something like name changes, the file doesn't move
+        self.path = path
+
+    def build_path(self) -> Path | None:
+        if self.path is not None:
+            return self.path
+        return None
 
     # increment for breaking changes
     def max_schema_version(self) -> int:
         return 1
+
+
+class KilnParentedModel(KilnBaseModel, metaclass=ABCMeta):
+    id: str = ID_FIELD
+    parent: Optional[KilnBaseModel] = Field(default=None, exclude=True)
+
+    @abstractmethod
+    def relationship_name(self) -> str:
+        pass
+
+    def build_child_filename(self) -> Path:
+        # Default implementation for readable filenames.
+        # Can be overridden, but probably shouldn't be.
+        # {id} - {name}.kiln
+        path = self.id
+        name = getattr(self, "name", None)
+        if name is not None:
+            path = f"{path} - {name[:32]}"
+        path = f"{path}.kiln"
+        return Path(path)
+
+    def build_path(self) -> Path | None:
+        # if specificaly loaded from an existing path, keep that no matter what
+        # this ensures the file structure is easy to use with git/version control
+        # and that changes to things like name (which impacts default path) don't leave dangling files
+        if self.path is not None:
+            return self.path
+        # Build a path under parent_folder/relationship/file.kiln
+        if self.parent is None:
+            return None
+        parent_path = self.parent.build_path()
+        if parent_path is None:
+            return None
+        parent_folder = parent_path.parent
+        if parent_folder is None:
+            return None
+        return parent_folder / self.relationship_name() / self.build_child_filename()
diff --git a/libs/core/kiln_ai/datamodel/project.py b/libs/core/kiln_ai/datamodel/project.py
index 165e8e8..ab453d8 100644
--- a/libs/core/kiln_ai/datamodel/project.py
+++ b/libs/core/kiln_ai/datamodel/project.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from .basemodel import KilnBaseModel
+from .basemodel import KilnBaseModel, KilnParentedModel
 from pydantic import Field
 
 NAME_REGEX = r"^[A-Za-z0-9 _-]+$"
@@ -9,5 +9,8 @@ class Project(KilnBaseModel):
     name: str = NAME_FIELD
 
 
-class Task(KilnBaseModel):
+class Task(KilnParentedModel):
     name: str = NAME_FIELD
+
+    def relationship_name(self) -> str:
+        return "tasks"
diff --git a/libs/core/kiln_ai/datamodel/test_basemodel.py b/libs/core/kiln_ai/datamodel/test_basemodel.py
index eff6520..b4f132e 100644
--- a/libs/core/kiln_ai/datamodel/test_basemodel.py
+++ b/libs/core/kiln_ai/datamodel/test_basemodel.py
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 import json
 import pytest
-from kiln_ai.datamodel.basemodel import KilnBaseModel
+from kiln_ai.datamodel.basemodel import KilnBaseModel, KilnParentedModel
 from pathlib import Path
+from typing import Optional
 
 
 @pytest.fixture
@@ -56,3 +57,104 @@ def test_max_schema_version(test_newer_file):
 def test_type_name():
     model = KilnBaseModel()
     assert model.type == "KilnBaseModel"
+
+
+# Instance of the parented model for abstract methods
+class NamedParentedModel(KilnParentedModel):
+    def relationship_name(self) -> str:
+        return "tests"
+
+    def build_child_filename(self) -> Path:
+        return Path("child.kiln")
+
+
+def test_parented_model_path_gen(tmp_path):
+    parent = KilnBaseModel(path=tmp_path)
+    child = NamedParentedModel(parent=parent)
+    child_path = child.build_path()
+    assert child_path.name == "child.kiln"
+    assert child_path.parent.name == "tests"
+    assert child_path.parent.parent == tmp_path.parent
+
+
+# Instance of the parented model for abstract methods, with default name builder
+class DefaultParentedModel(KilnParentedModel):
+    name: Optional[str] = None
+
+    def relationship_name(self) -> str:
+        return "children"
+
+
+def test_build_default_child_filename(tmp_path):
+    parent = KilnBaseModel(path=tmp_path)
+    child = DefaultParentedModel(parent=parent)
+    child_path = child.build_path()
+    child_path_without_id = child_path.name[10:]
+    assert child_path_without_id == ".kiln"
+    assert child_path.parent.name == "children"
+    assert child_path.parent.parent == tmp_path.parent
+    # now with name
+    child = DefaultParentedModel(parent=parent, name="Name")
+    child_path = child.build_path()
+    child_path_without_id = child_path.name[10:]
+    assert child_path_without_id == " - Name.kiln"
+    assert child_path.parent.name == "children"
+    assert child_path.parent.parent == tmp_path.parent
+
+
+def test_serialize_child(tmp_path):
+    parent = KilnBaseModel(path=tmp_path)
+    child = DefaultParentedModel(parent=parent, name="Name")
+
+    expected_path = child.build_path()
+    assert child.path is None
+    child.save_to_file()
+
+    # ensure we save exact path
+    assert child.path is not None
+    assert child.path == expected_path
+
+    # should have made the directory, and saved the file
+    with open(child.path, "r") as file:
+        data = json.load(file)
+
+    assert data["v"] == 1
+    assert data["name"] == "Name"
+    assert data["type"] == "DefaultParentedModel"
+    assert len(data["id"]) == 10
+    assert child.path.parent.name == "children"
+    assert child.path.parent.parent == tmp_path.parent
+
+    # change name, see it serializes, but path stays the same
+    child.name = "Name2"
+    child.save_to_file()
+    assert child.path == expected_path
+    with open(child.path, "r") as file:
+        data = json.load(file)
+    assert data["name"] == "Name2"
+
+
+def test_save_to_set_location(tmp_path):
+    # Keeps the OG path if parent and path are both set
+    parent = KilnBaseModel(path=tmp_path)
+    child_path = tmp_path.parent / "child.kiln"
+    child = DefaultParentedModel(path=child_path, parent=parent, name="Name")
+    assert child.build_path() == child_path
+
+    # check file created at child_path, not the default smart path
+    assert not child_path.exists()
+    child.save_to_file()
+    assert child_path.exists()
+
+    # if we don't set the path, use the parent + smartpath
+    child2 = DefaultParentedModel(parent=parent, name="Name2")
+    assert child2.build_path().parent.name == "children"
+    assert child2.build_path().parent.parent == tmp_path.parent
+
+
+def test_parent_without_path():
+    # no path from parent or direct path
+    parent = KilnBaseModel()
+    child = DefaultParentedModel(parent=parent, name="Name")
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+        child.save_to_file()
diff --git a/pyrightconfig.json b/pyrightconfig.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3356c80
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pyrightconfig.json
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+{
+  "exclude": ["**/test_*.py"]
+}
\ No newline at end of file