What to Include in Your Emergency Page: A Complete Checklist

When you sit down to create your emergency page, it can feel overwhelming. What do they need? What can wait? What's actually important?

We've put together this comprehensive checklist based on conversations with estate planners, financial advisors, and families who've been through the process of losing a loved one. Use it as a guide — you don't need to fill everything in today.

Emergency Contacts

Primary care physician (name, phone, patient ID)
Attorney / estate planner
Financial advisor
Accountant / CPA
Insurance agent(s)
Employer HR contact
Close family members not already in the loop
Clergy or spiritual advisor

Financial Accounts

Checking & savings accounts (bank, account numbers, online login info)
Investment accounts (brokerage, 401k, IRA)
Mortgage / home equity loans
Car loans or leases
Credit cards (issuer, last 4 digits, auto-pay status)
Student loans
Cryptocurrency accounts (exchange + wallet info)
PayPal, Venmo, or other digital wallets
Any debts owed to you or by you

Insurance Policies

Life insurance (term, whole — policy numbers, beneficiaries, agent)
Health insurance (group or individual, COBRA eligibility)
Auto insurance
Homeowners / renters insurance
Umbrella liability policy
Long-term care insurance
Disability insurance (employer or private)

Legal Documents

Will (location of original and copies)
Trust documents
Power of attorney (financial)
Healthcare proxy / advance directive
DNR order (if applicable)
Property deeds
Vehicle titles
Marriage certificate
Birth certificates
Social Security cards
Passport locations

Digital Life

Password manager (which one, master password or recovery kit location)
Email accounts (Google, Outlook — legacy contact settings)
Social media (Facebook, Instagram — memorialization preferences)
Apple ID / Google account (legacy contact setup)
Streaming subscriptions (what to cancel)
Cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloud)
Domain names or websites you own
Phone passcode and computer login

Final Wishes

Burial vs. cremation preference
Funeral or memorial service wishes
Music, readings, or specific requests
Organ donation preference
Charitable donations in lieu of flowers
Anything you want said (or not said)

Personal Messages

This is the section people find hardest — and most meaningful. Consider writing a short message to:

Your spouse or partner
Each of your children
Your parents
Your siblings
Your best friend

It doesn't have to be long. Even a few sentences can mean the world.

Practical Details People Forget

Home alarm code
Safe combination or key location
Safe deposit box (bank, box number, key location)
Storage unit (location, unit number, access info)
Pet care instructions
Recurring subscriptions and auto-payments
Lawn service, cleaning service, maintenance contacts
WiFi password (yes, really)

Start today, improve over time

You don't need to complete this in one sitting. Start with the most critical items — bank accounts, insurance, legal documents — and add more over time. Every time you open a new account or update a policy, take 30 seconds to update your page.

The best emergency page is the one that exists. Start now.

Create your emergency page