Family

Family emergency information: what to gather in one place

By Brainy Planner · Updated October 14, 2026

This guide is for record-keeping. It is not legal, financial or medical advice. Ask a qualified professional about wills, powers of attorney and similar documents where you live.

In an emergency, family members often need information quickly: who to call, where papers are and what is covered. Gathering it ahead of time saves them stress. Keep the finished binder somewhere safe and tell a trusted person where it is.

People and contacts

• Emergency contacts, family and close friends, with phone numbers.
• Doctors, dentists, pharmacists and other care providers.
• Employer, school and childcare contacts.
• Professionals you work with, such as a lawyer, accountant or financial adviser.

Health and care

• Current medications, allergies and important conditions for each person.
• Insurance details and policy contacts.
• Care instructions for children, dependants and pets.

Home and property

• Where the main water, gas and electrical shut-offs are.
• Home and auto insurance details and agent contacts.
• Vehicle details, and where spare keys are kept.

Money and accounts

• A list of accounts and who to contact at each institution. Do not write passwords or full account numbers in the binder.
• Regular bills and when they are due.
• Subscriptions and automatic payments.

Documents and where they are

• The location of originals: wills, birth and marriage certificates, deeds, titles, insurance policies and tax records.
• Who holds copies and how to reach them.

Wishes and instructions

• Notes on your wishes for care, pets and personal matters.
• Funeral or memorial preferences, if you want to share them.

Keep it current

Review the binder once or twice a year and after any big life change, such as a move, a new job or a new baby. The Family Emergency & Estate Organizer provides pages for each of these sections and deliberately leaves out passwords and ID numbers.