diff --git a/src/algorithms.rs b/src/algorithms.rs
index 94eb363..0d2e07e 100644
--- a/src/algorithms.rs
+++ b/src/algorithms.rs
@@ -4,11 +4,16 @@ use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 
 use crate::errors::{Error, ErrorKind, Result};
 
+/// Supported families of algorithms.
 #[derive(Debug, Eq, PartialEq, Copy, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 pub enum AlgorithmFamily {
+    /// HMAC shared secret family.
     Hmac,
+    /// RSA-based public key family.
     Rsa,
+    /// Edwards curve public key family.
     Ec,
+    /// Elliptic curve public key family.
     Ed,
 }
 
@@ -88,7 +93,8 @@ impl FromStr for Algorithm {
 }
 
 impl Algorithm {
-    pub(crate) fn family(self) -> AlgorithmFamily {
+    /// The family of the algorithm.
+    pub fn family(self) -> AlgorithmFamily {
         match self {
             Algorithm::HS256 | Algorithm::HS384 | Algorithm::HS512 => AlgorithmFamily::Hmac,
             Algorithm::RS256
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index 920b996..b15c62d 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ compile_error!(
 #[cfg(not(any(feature = "rust_crypto", feature = "aws_lc_rs")))]
 compile_error!("at least one of the features \"rust_crypto\" or \"aws_lc_rs\" must be enabled");
 
-pub use algorithms::Algorithm;
+pub use algorithms::{Algorithm, AlgorithmFamily};
 pub use decoding::{DecodingKey, TokenData, decode, decode_header};
 pub use encoding::{EncodingKey, encode};
 pub use header::Header;
diff --git a/src/validation.rs b/src/validation.rs
index 96ae3ac..71a8583 100644
--- a/src/validation.rs
+++ b/src/validation.rs
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ use std::marker::PhantomData;
 use serde::de::{self, Visitor};
 use serde::{Deserialize, Deserializer};
 
-use crate::algorithms::Algorithm;
+use crate::algorithms::{Algorithm, AlgorithmFamily};
 use crate::errors::{ErrorKind, Result, new_error};
 
 /// Contains the various validations that are applied after decoding a JWT.
@@ -111,12 +111,21 @@ pub struct Validation {
 impl Validation {
     /// Create a default validation setup allowing the given alg
     pub fn new(alg: Algorithm) -> Validation {
+        Self::new_impl(vec![alg])
+    }
+
+    /// Create a default validation setup allowing any algorithm in the family
+    pub fn new_for_family(family: AlgorithmFamily) -> Validation {
+        Self::new_impl(family.algorithms().into_iter().copied().collect())
+    }
+
+    fn new_impl(algorithms: Vec<Algorithm>) -> Validation {
         let mut required_claims = HashSet::with_capacity(1);
         required_claims.insert("exp".to_owned());
 
         Validation {
             required_spec_claims: required_claims,
-            algorithms: vec![alg],
+            algorithms,
             leeway: 60,
             reject_tokens_expiring_in_less_than: 0,