1Start with the page someone will look for first
Put a single page at the very front with your full name, date of birth, address, the people to call and the best way to reach them. Add who lives with you, including pets, and where the water, gas and electrical shut-offs are.
If you only fill in one page this week, make it this one.
Printable page
Personal & Emergency Info →
2Medical information
Blood type, allergies, ongoing conditions, past surgeries and every medication you take, including supplements. Add your doctor, preferred hospital and pharmacy, and keep a short log of appointments so the next doctor has context.
Printable page
Medical Info & Medication Log →
3Insurance and documents: locations, not copies
List every insurance policy with its renewal date and agent. Then make a locator: where your birth certificate, passport, deeds, titles, will and tax returns are physically kept.
The binder should tell someone where to look, not hold the originals.
Printable page
Important Documents Locator →
4Money and digital accounts, safely
Record which institutions hold your accounts, the type of account and the last four digits only. For digital accounts, list the service, the username and a password hint, and say what you'd want done with each account.
Never write full account numbers, PINs or passwords. If you use a password manager, note where the recovery kit is kept.
- Banks and credit unions
- Retirement and investment accounts
- Credit cards and loans
- Primary email and phone
- Social media and subscriptions
Printable page
Digital Accounts & Password Log →
5The everyday admin that keeps it useful
A binder you only open in a crisis goes stale. Adding your monthly bills, subscriptions and home maintenance gives you a reason to open it regularly, and that keeps everything else current.
Printable page
Bills & Subscriptions Tracker →
6Your wishes, in your own words
Burial or cremation, the service, people to notify, who will care for pets and dependents and any messages you want shared. This page isn't a legal document, so pair it with a will and advance directive prepared with an attorney.
Printable page
Final Wishes & End-of-Life Planning →
7Keep it current with a yearly review
Pick a date you won't forget, such as January or your birthday, and spend an hour updating contacts, medications, policies and accounts. Note the date on a review log so anyone reading knows how fresh it is.
Finally, tell one trusted person where the binder lives.
