FAMILY EMERGENCY BINDER: BROWSER AND TEXT TEMPLATE Start with the opening fields: one agreed contact, one checked document location, and one household responsibility. Try those instructions with the person who will use the binder. Add other sections as needed. Copy the blank fields into a private note to complete them. The section names match the printable binder. The opening page can point to fuller entries later in the file. SECTIONS 1. Family emergency binder 2. Who to call first 3. People who matter 4. Important documents 5. Financial and digital map 6. Home and property 7. Health information 8. Wishes and preferences 9. A personal note 10. About this template 1. FAMILY EMERGENCY BINDER A printable guide to who to call and where to find important information. Protect private information Use this binder to record who to contact and where to find important information. Keep passwords, PINs, security answers, recovery codes, device-unlock codes, Social Security numbers, and full account, card, or policy numbers out of this shared index. Store detailed records separately. A completed binder may still contain sensitive health information, family contacts, and home-access details. Store it securely and share it only with people who need it. Financial institutions may require proof of identity, authority, and other documents before providing information or access. Start here Make the first useful version before filling in every section. A gap can say "not arranged" or "not yet located," with a person and next action. Use the detailed sections below when a short pointer is not enough. Prepared for; last checked: ______________________________ Current copy; who knows how to obtain it: ______________________________ First contact; checked number; agreed role: ______________________________ Document; version; location; who can help: ______________________________ Household task; when; helper; instructions location: ______________________________ Still to check; next action; person; follow-up date: ______________________________ Tried with; result; next review date: ______________________________ Ask the intended reader to find this page, identify the first contact, find the agreed document or its holder, and locate the household instruction. Record any obstacle and try that step again after fixing it. See the binder guide for a completed example: https://dearfile.com/blog/family-emergency-binder-template 2. WHO TO CALL FIRST Start with urgent help, then contact the people who know your family. Emergency services come first In the U.S., call 911 first if someone needs immediate police, fire, or medical help. Once emergency help is underway, use these personal contacts. Outside the U.S., use the local emergency number. Privacy reminder: include only details these people have agreed to share. Do not record passwords, PINs, or security answers. Primary family contact Name and relationship: ______________________________ Phone: ______________________________ What this person can help with: ______________________________ Backup family contact Name and relationship: ______________________________ Phone: ______________________________ What this person can help with: ______________________________ Nearby trusted person Name and relationship: ______________________________ Phone: ______________________________ What this person can help with: ______________________________ Person who can help with home access Name and relationship: ______________________________ Phone: ______________________________ What this person can help with: ______________________________ 3. PEOPLE WHO MATTER List the people your family may need to reach and why. Family, friends, and dependants Person 1 of 6 Name: ______________________________ Relationship: ______________________________ Phone or email: ______________________________ Notes: ______________________________ Person 2 of 6 Name: ______________________________ Relationship: ______________________________ Phone or email: ______________________________ Notes: ______________________________ Person 3 of 6 Name: ______________________________ Relationship: ______________________________ Phone or email: ______________________________ Notes: ______________________________ Person 4 of 6 Name: ______________________________ Relationship: ______________________________ Phone or email: ______________________________ Notes: ______________________________ Person 5 of 6 Name: ______________________________ Relationship: ______________________________ Phone or email: ______________________________ Notes: ______________________________ Person 6 of 6 Name: ______________________________ Relationship: ______________________________ Phone or email: ______________________________ Notes: ______________________________ Professional contacts Professional contact 1 of 4 Role: ______________________________ Name or organization: ______________________________ Phone or email: ______________________________ What they handle: ______________________________ Professional contact 2 of 4 Role: ______________________________ Name or organization: ______________________________ Phone or email: ______________________________ What they handle: ______________________________ Professional contact 3 of 4 Role: ______________________________ Name or organization: ______________________________ Phone or email: ______________________________ What they handle: ______________________________ Professional contact 4 of 4 Role: ______________________________ Name or organization: ______________________________ Phone or email: ______________________________ What they handle: ______________________________ Children, older relatives, pets, or others who rely on me: ______________________________ 4. IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS Record where documents are kept and who can help locate them. Use locations, not sensitive numbers Do not copy full financial, identity, card, policy, or account numbers into this binder. Describe the secure location instead. Document map Document or record 1 of 7 Document or record: ______________________________ Where it is kept: ______________________________ Who can help: ______________________________ Document or record 2 of 7 Document or record: ______________________________ Where it is kept: ______________________________ Who can help: ______________________________ Document or record 3 of 7 Document or record: ______________________________ Where it is kept: ______________________________ Who can help: ______________________________ Document or record 4 of 7 Document or record: ______________________________ Where it is kept: ______________________________ Who can help: ______________________________ Document or record 5 of 7 Document or record: ______________________________ Where it is kept: ______________________________ Who can help: ______________________________ Document or record 6 of 7 Document or record: ______________________________ Where it is kept: ______________________________ Who can help: ______________________________ Document or record 7 of 7 Document or record: ______________________________ Where it is kept: ______________________________ Who can help: ______________________________ Useful categories [ ] Identity and civil records [ ] Insurance documents [ ] Property and vehicle records [ ] Will, trust, power of attorney, and advance directive [ ] Tax and employment records [ ] Secure financial records Special instructions for obtaining authorized access: ______________________________ 5. FINANCIAL AND DIGITAL MAP Name the institutions and services. Keep credentials and full numbers elsewhere. Financial institutions and advisers Institution or adviser 1 of 5 Institution or adviser: ______________________________ Purpose: ______________________________ How to contact: ______________________________ Where records are kept: ______________________________ Institution or adviser 2 of 5 Institution or adviser: ______________________________ Purpose: ______________________________ How to contact: ______________________________ Where records are kept: ______________________________ Institution or adviser 3 of 5 Institution or adviser: ______________________________ Purpose: ______________________________ How to contact: ______________________________ Where records are kept: ______________________________ Institution or adviser 4 of 5 Institution or adviser: ______________________________ Purpose: ______________________________ How to contact: ______________________________ Where records are kept: ______________________________ Institution or adviser 5 of 5 Institution or adviser: ______________________________ Purpose: ______________________________ How to contact: ______________________________ Where records are kept: ______________________________ Power of attorney If someone may need to use a power of attorney, ask each financial institution in advance what it will accept and what identification or forms it may require. Digital services Digital service 1 of 4 Service or category: ______________________________ Why it matters: ______________________________ Authorized person who can help: ______________________________ Digital service 2 of 4 Service or category: ______________________________ Why it matters: ______________________________ Authorized person who can help: ______________________________ Digital service 3 of 4 Service or category: ______________________________ Why it matters: ______________________________ Authorized person who can help: ______________________________ Digital service 4 of 4 Service or category: ______________________________ Why it matters: ______________________________ Authorized person who can help: ______________________________ Never record passwords, PINs, security answers, recovery codes, or device-unlock codes here. 6. HOME AND PROPERTY Help your family reach the right person without exposing unnecessary access details. Home contacts Landlord, building manager, or neighbour: ______________________________ Utility provider contacts: ______________________________ Repair or maintenance contact: ______________________________ Person who can help authorized family members enter the home: ______________________________ Household help Who can help authorized family members connect to Wi-Fi: ______________________________ Pet care contact and routine: ______________________________ Vehicle or transport contact: ______________________________ Other practical help: ______________________________ Property and household notes Item or responsibility 1 of 5 Item or responsibility: ______________________________ Where to find information: ______________________________ Who can help: ______________________________ Item or responsibility 2 of 5 Item or responsibility: ______________________________ Where to find information: ______________________________ Who can help: ______________________________ Item or responsibility 3 of 5 Item or responsibility: ______________________________ Where to find information: ______________________________ Who can help: ______________________________ Item or responsibility 4 of 5 Item or responsibility: ______________________________ Where to find information: ______________________________ Who can help: ______________________________ Item or responsibility 5 of 5 Item or responsibility: ______________________________ Where to find information: ______________________________ Who can help: ______________________________ 7. HEALTH INFORMATION Share only what would help in an emergency or support ongoing care. This page can be sensitive Protect completed copies. Keep detailed medical records in their usual secure location and record only what your chosen people need to know. Do not use this page to change prescribed treatment. Primary doctor or clinic: ______________________________ Pharmacy: ______________________________ Health insurance contact: ______________________________ Emergency health contact: ______________________________ Last reviewed: ______________________________ Allergies or critical conditions: ______________________________ Current medicines that may matter: ______________________________ Where detailed health records are kept: ______________________________ Care notes Care notes: ______________________________ 8. WISHES AND PREFERENCES Give your family useful context while keeping formal legal documents separate. This page is not a legal document Use this page to explain your preferences. It is not intended to replace a will, trust, advance directive, or other legal document. Ask an attorney which documents and formalities apply where you live. People I want involved in important decisions: ______________________________ Care, memorial, cultural, or religious preferences: ______________________________ People, places, possessions, or routines that matter to me: ______________________________ Where my formal legal documents are kept and who can help locate them: ______________________________ 9. A PERSONAL NOTE Leave the context that forms and lists cannot carry. Write a note in your own words. You might explain what matters most, where to begin, or whom you trust to help. A personal note: ______________________________ Review log Review 1 of 5 Date reviewed: ______________________________ What changed: ______________________________ Reviewed with: ______________________________ Review 2 of 5 Date reviewed: ______________________________ What changed: ______________________________ Reviewed with: ______________________________ Review 3 of 5 Date reviewed: ______________________________ What changed: ______________________________ Reviewed with: ______________________________ Review 4 of 5 Date reviewed: ______________________________ What changed: ______________________________ Reviewed with: ______________________________ Review 5 of 5 Date reviewed: ______________________________ What changed: ______________________________ Reviewed with: ______________________________ 10. ABOUT THIS TEMPLATE A practical starting point for a clearer family file. What it is This free printable template helps you organize contacts, document locations, household information, health notes, and personal wishes. Choose what to include, keep completed copies protected, and review them after important changes and at a regular interval that works for you. You do not need a DearFile account to use this template. Printing and sharing [ ] The blank template is free to print, copy, and share. [ ] Share completed copies only with the people you choose. [ ] Keep completed paper copies in protected locations. [ ] Keep separate copies in secure places when that suits your family. General information only This template is for organization and general information. It is not legal, financial, medical, or emergency advice. Requirements vary. Ask a qualified professional about your situation. My next review date: ______________________________ Learn more and download a fresh blank copy at DearFile.com DearFile.com | Free printable template GUIDE AND SOURCE LINKS Family emergency binder guide: https://dearfile.com/blog/family-emergency-binder-template Family emergency binder PDF: https://dearfile.com/family-emergency-binder-template.pdf Family emergency contact sheet guide: https://dearfile.com/blog/family-emergency-contact-list-template National 911 Program: calling 911: https://www.911.gov/calling-911/ CFPB: preparing records before a disaster or emergency: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/consumer-tools/disasters-and-emergencies/get-prepared-before-disaster-emergency-strikes/ CFPB: asking a bank or credit union about an existing power of attorney: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/my-family-member-signed-a-power-of-attorney-poa-but-when-i-took-it-to-the-bankcredit-union-i-was-told-the-poa-has-to-be-on-the-bankcredit-unions-form-what-can-i-do-en-1151/