What My Family Needs To Know Guide

Before You Begin

If something happened to you tomorrow, would the people you love know where to look? Most families don’t — not because they don’t care, but because no one ever wrote it all down in one place. This is that place.

How to use this organizer

Fill in what you can, in any order. It’s completely fine to leave blanks — you can always come back. Most people work through it a little at a time over a week or two. The goal isn’t to finish in one sitting; it’s to get the important things out of your head and onto paper.

What’s inside — check off as you go

★ As you go, tap “☆ Flag for review” at the top of any section you’re unsure about or would like a second set of eyes on. By the end you’ll have a ready-made list — and a complimentary review waiting at the back if it’s ever helpful. No pressure, no obligation.

When you’re done, do two things: keep this organizer somewhere safe (a fireproof box or with your other important papers), and tell one trusted person where to find it. An organizer no one can find can’t help anyone.

A note on security. This binder will contain sensitive details. Avoid writing full account numbers, Social Security numbers, or passwords on these pages unless the binder is kept in a locked or secure place. Where a page says “where it’s kept,” you can simply point to where the full information lives.

This organizer is a tool for gathering and organizing your own information. It is not legal, financial, tax, or medical advice, and it is not a will, trust, or advance directive. For guidance on any of those, please consult a qualified professional.

1 About Me

Full legal name

Also known as / nickname

Date of birth

Place of birth

Phone

Home address

Where my Social Security card is kept

The people closest to me

If something happens, contact first

2 My Trusted Team

The professionals who help with my affairs. Your family will be glad to have these names and numbers in one place.

Common roles to list: attorney, financial advisor, accountant / CPA, insurance agent, banker, doctor(s), and anyone else your family may need to reach.

3 Important Documents and Where to Find Them

You don’t need to write what the documents say — just whether you have one and where it lives.

Helpful list to walk through: Will · Living trust · Power of attorney (financial) · Healthcare directive / living will · Birth and marriage certificates · Property deeds · Vehicle titles · Safe deposit box (and where the key is) · Military / veteran records.

4 Financial Accounts at a Glance

A simple map of where things are — so nothing valuable is ever lost or forgotten.

For your security: list the institution and type, not full account numbers. Note where the full details are kept instead.

5 Insurance and Benefits

Insurance policies

Types to consider: life, health, long-term care, home, auto, disability, umbrella.

Pensions, annuities and benefits

6 Home, Property and Monthly Obligations

Home and property

Mortgage lender / loan servicer

Where the deed / title is kept

Other property (vacation home, land, storage)

Recurring bills and subscriptions

Things your family may need to continue, cancel, or know about.

7 My Digital Life

More of life lives online than ever. This helps your family reach what matters — and close what doesn’t.

Never write passwords here. Instead, note where they can be found (a password manager, a sealed envelope, a trusted person).

Primary email account

Phone passcode is kept (where / with whom)

Password manager (which one and how to access)

Key online accounts

8 Healthcare and My Wishes

Medical

Primary doctor and phone

Pharmacy

Allergies

Major conditions

Blood type

Where my advance directive / living will is kept

Organ donor? (Y/N)

Medications

9 Final Wishes

Hard to think about — but writing it down is one of the kindest gifts you can leave. It spares your family from guessing.

I would prefer (burial, cremation, other)

Funeral home / provider (if any)

Service preferences (where, music, readings, who leads)

People and organizations to notify

Anything else I would want my family to know or do

Finish and Save Your Organizer

You’ve made it to the end — well done. Save a copy as a PDF, print it, and keep it somewhere safe.

How to save: click Save as PDF, then in the print window choose “Save as PDF” as the destination (on a phone, choose Share, then Save to Files). Turn on “Background graphics” if it’s offered so the colors come through.

Privacy: everything you type stays on your own device — nothing is sent anywhere. Your answers are remembered in this browser so you can come back later; use “Clear all answers” when finished on a shared computer.

Since this PDF will contain sensitive information, store it in a secure place (encrypted folder, locked drive, or printed and in a fireproof box) and tell one trusted person where to find it. If you’d like a complimentary second set of eyes on anything you flagged, just reach out.