Important information. All in one place. Just in case.
Make sure the people you love aren’t starting from zero.
A 32-page printable family-information system to organize the household, financial, digital and personal information your trusted family members may someday need.
$9.99 · Digital Download
After purchase, open My Account → Downloads to retrieve both PDFs. Begin with Read This First, then open your Family File workbook.
Would your family know where to start?
Important information has a way of spreading out: filing cabinets, phones, computers, email accounts, online accounts, drawers, paperwork—and one person’s memory. Even a very organized drawer can’t explain itself.
- Where are the important documents?
- What bills are on autopay?
- What bank and investment accounts exist?
- Where are the insurance policies?
- Which email account controls important accounts?
- How would someone receive a verification code sent to your phone?
- Where are passwords—or where are they securely stored?
- Who should be contacted?
- Which belongings matter and shouldn’t simply be discarded?
- What household information exists only in your head?
The Family File gives those answers one place to live, so the people you trust have a starting point.
Why I created it
When my father passed away, our family was already dealing with an incredibly difficult situation. Then came everything else.
We had to figure out his house, bills, bank accounts, passwords, insurance, investments, utilities, vehicles, paperwork, belongings and the people who needed to be contacted. There were also things we didn’t even know we needed to look for.
My father did not have a trust, so his estate had to go through probate. It was a long process. At the same time, we were dealing with a house filled with belongings accumulated over approximately 30 years.
A file like this would not have taken away our grief. It would not have prevented probate or solved every problem. But it would have made a very difficult situation a little easier.
That’s why I created the Just-in-Case Family File.
Hopefully your family won’t need it for many years. But someday, they may be very glad you made it.
What’s inside
The 32-page system brings practical information together in easy-to-follow sections. Use the pages that fit your life.
Start with the essentials
- Start Here If I’m Unavailable
- The 10-Minute Start
- Estate & Authority Documents
- Important Contacts
- Upcoming Responsibilities / What Needs Attention Soon
- Regular Update Checklist
Accounts & everyday responsibilities
- Email Accounts & Access
- Primary Phone & Verification Codes
- Passwords & Digital Access
- Banking & Investments
- Insurance
- Bills & Autopay
- Credit Cards
- Taxes
Home & the people who depend on you
- Home, Property & Utilities
- Vehicles, RVs, Boats & Equipment
- Health Information
- Children & Dependents
- Pets
- Business Responsibilities
- Important Mail
- Home Access & Security
The details that make it personal
- Personal Wishes
- Belongings That Matter
- Please Don’t Throw This Away
- Things Only I Know
- If Someone Has to Sort the House
You don’t have to finish all 32 pages today.
Make the file useful first. The 10-Minute Start helps you record the highest-priority information, then complete the rest gradually.
- People to contact
- Estate / authority documents
- Primary email
- Primary Phone & Verification Codes
- Banking & investments
- Insurance
- Bills & autopay
- Where the completed file is stored
Start with what matters most. Finish the rest over time.
A password may only be the first step.
Important accounts may also need an email recovery link, a text-message verification code, an authenticator app, backup or recovery codes, or access to an already-authorized device.
Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) is an extra security step after a password is entered. It may send a code to a phone or require an authenticator app.
The email and phone sections help you identify these connections and where authorized access information can be found.
You decide how much sensitive information to include.
Option A — Record It Here
Record selected information directly in the Family File. Protect the completed file and limit access to people you trust.
Option B — Tell Them Where to Find It
Prefer to keep sensitive details elsewhere? Identify where authorized access information is securely stored, such as a password manager, safe or trusted professional.
Or use both.
You might record a low-risk household password directly, while sensitive banking credentials remain securely stored elsewhere. The Family File simply tells your trusted person where authorized information can be found.
Things Only I Know
Some of the most useful household information lives only in someone’s head: the water shutoff, electrical panel, spare keys, garage access, trusted repair people, household routines, storage locations, equipment quirks and important contacts.
Write down those little details before someone has to guess. Including which cupboard actually contains the spare keys.
Some of the most useful information may never appear on a bank statement or legal document.
Please Don’t Throw This Away
A worn photo album, a box of tools or an old hard drive may mean much more than it first appears. Belongings can carry sentimental importance, family history, financial value, digital importance or personal meaning.
This section gives you a place to identify those items, explain why they matter and leave useful guidance for someone sorting the home.
What you receive
The Just-in-Case Family File
- 32-page PDF
- Read This First PDF
- Standard US Letter — 8.5 × 11 inches
- Print the entire file or only the pages that apply
- Can also be maintained as a secure digital copy
Digital product. No physical item will be shipped.
$9.99 · Digital Download
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to put my passwords in this file?
No. Record selected information directly or simply identify where sensitive access information is securely stored.
Do I have to complete all 32 pages?
No. Use only the sections that apply. The 10-Minute Start helps document the highest-priority information first.
Can I print it?
Yes. It is designed for standard US Letter paper. Print the entire file or individual pages.
Is anything mailed to me?
No. This is a digital PDF product. No physical product is shipped.
How often should I update it?
Review it periodically and whenever important information changes. The Family File includes an update checklist.
Is this a legal or estate-planning product?
No. It is an organizational tool and does not replace formal legal documents or professional advice.
A practical organizational tool
The Just-in-Case Family File is an organizational tool. It is not legal, financial, tax, medical, cybersecurity or estate-planning advice and does not replace a will, trust, power of attorney, health-care directive, beneficiary designation, professional advice or other formal document. Laws and individual circumstances vary.
