The emergency document checklist
Everything a relative should be able to find within an hour, grouped so you can work through it in one sitting and tick items off on paper.
Medical
- Current medications, doses and prescribing doctor
- Allergies and previous adverse reactions
- Ongoing conditions, with year of diagnosis
- Health insurance member number, group number, plan phone number
- Primary care doctor and active specialists
- Advance directive or living will
- Healthcare proxy: name, relationship, phone number
Identity and legal
- Driver's license or state ID
- Passport
- Social Security number (stored privately)
- Birth certificate
- Marriage certificate or divorce decree
- Financial power of attorney — location of signed original
- Medical power of attorney — location of signed original
- Military discharge papers
Money in motion
- Banks and credit unions: institution and last four digits
- Mortgage or landlord, and the payment date
- Utilities on autopay
- Employer HR contact and payroll details
- Loans and credit cards
Insurance
One line per policy: insurer, policy number, what it covers, claims phone number.
- Homeowners or renters
- Auto (one per vehicle)
- Health, dental, vision
- Life (personal and employer-provided)
- Disability
- Umbrella liability
- Riders: jewellery, instruments, art, collections
The home
- Deed or lease, and property tax record
- Water shut-off, breaker panel and gas valve locations
- Alarm code, monitoring company and passphrase
- Vehicle titles, registration and spare key locations
- Trusted trades: plumber, electrician, HVAC
People to call first
Five names, one line each on why they matter.
- Who to call first
- Who holds the will
- Who has a key
- Who cares for the animals
- Who at work needs to be told
The thinking behind this list is in The documents your family should be able to find in an emergency.