Start with the six things your family would need first
Most people never finish a big binder, so don't start with one. These six steps take two or three minutes each. Everything else can wait.
- Three people to call firstName, relationship, phone
- Where your important papers are keptThe drawer, the folder, the safe deposit box
- The banks you useNames only, never account numbers
- Where your password manager and recovery codes are keptAnd who is allowed to open them
- Who could look after your petsOr anyone who depends on you
- Tell one trusted person where the binder livesThe step most people forget
That's today done. The rest below can be filled in a page at a time.
The full checklist, section by section
Work through it in any order and skip whatever doesn't apply to you.
People to call
- The first people to call, in order
- Family and close friends
- Doctor, lawyer, accountant, adviser
- Work, school and groups to tell
- Neighbors with a key, helpers
Documents
- Birth and marriage certificates
- Passports, IDs and cards
- Home and property papers
- Tax returns and records worth keeping
- Safe places and keys, and who can open them
- Where a will or legal papers are kept
Money and insurance
- Banks, cards and savings, by name
- Pensions and retirement accounts
- Loans, mortgage and debts
- Income coming in
- Life, health, home and car insurers
Home, vehicles and pets
- Monthly and yearly bills, and how they're paid
- Utilities and service providers
- Who to call for repairs
- Subscriptions to cancel
- Car papers and spare keys
- Pets: food, vet, routine, carer
Digital life
- Where the password manager and recovery codes are
- Email, phone and computer access
- Important accounts and devices
- Where photos and files are stored
Medical
- Doctors and specialists
- Medicines, copied from the labels
- Allergies and health notes
- Care wishes, in your own words
Wishes and letters
- How you'd like to be remembered
- Keepsakes and who should have them
- Family recipes and stories
- Causes you care about
- Letters to the people you love
Anyone who finds a binder can read it. Write where things are kept and who can open them, never the passwords, PINs or account numbers themselves.
Want every section ready to fill in?
In Case You Need It is the printable family emergency binder: 57 pages laid out to fill in by hand, with every section above and space to grow.
- Start Here page, contents and binder tab labels
- People, documents, money, home, pets, digital life, medical, wishes
- US Letter and A4, print at home
Questions people ask
Is this the same as a will?
No. It's an organizer that helps your family find things. It isn't a will and isn't legal, financial or tax advice. For legal questions, a qualified professional where you live can help.
Should I write my passwords in it?
No. Write where your password manager and recovery codes are kept, and who can open them.
How long does it take?
About 15 minutes for the six first steps. The rest whenever you have time, a page at a time.
Where should I keep it?
Somewhere safe but findable, like a labeled folder at home, with one trusted person who knows where it is. Look it over a couple of times a year and after big changes, and write the date each time.