Read This First

Immediate Steps (First 48 Hours)

If you are reading this, something has happened to Steve. Take a breath. This documentation is here to help you through it, one step at a time.

Right Now (First 24 Hours)

  1. Contact family and close friends — see the Important Contacts page in this book.
  2. Do NOT rush to cancel anything. Auto-pay will keep bills and subscriptions running. You have time.
  3. Secure the house — make sure doors are locked, alarm is set. See the Smart Home & Security chapter in the Home & Property book if you need help.
  4. Locate the password manager — see the "Getting Access to Everything" chapter in the Digital Life book. This is the master key to nearly every account.
  5. Find important physical documents — see "Where to Find Key Documents" in this book.

Within the First Week

  1. Notify employer / business contacts — [list employer name, HR contact, or business partner info here]
  2. Contact insurance companies — life insurance, health insurance, auto, home (details in the Home & Property book).
  3. Notify the mortgage lender — see "Ownership & Mortgage" in the Home & Property book.
  4. Contact the bank(s) — [list primary bank and contact info]
  5. Consult an attorney if needed — [attorney name and number, or "see Important Contacts"]

Within the First Month

  1. Review all subscriptions and recurring charges — see the Subscriptions chapter in Digital Life.
  2. Decide what self-hosted services to keep running or shut down — see "How to Keep Running or Shut Down" in Digital Life.
  3. Update vehicle registrations and insurance as needed.
  4. File any necessary claims.

Don't Worry About

The smart home, servers, and network equipment will keep running on their own for weeks or months. Nothing will break if you leave it alone. This documentation tells you how to manage it when you're ready.

Important Contacts

Key people to reach out to. Keep this page updated.

Family

NameRelationshipPhoneEmailNotes
[Name][Spouse/Parent/Sibling][Phone][Email][e.g., Has spare house key]
[Name][Relationship][Phone][Email]
[Name][Relationship][Phone][Email]
RoleName / FirmPhoneEmail
Attorney / Estate Lawyer[Name][Phone][Email]
Accountant / Tax Preparer[Name][Phone][Email]
Financial Advisor[Name][Phone][Email]
Insurance Agent[Name][Phone][Email]
Employer / HR Contact[Name][Phone][Email]

Trusted Friends / Neighbors

NamePhoneNotes
[Name][Phone][e.g., Can help with tech stuff, knows the network setup]
[Name][Phone][e.g., Has garage code, can check on house]

Church

RoleNamePhone
Pastor[Name][Phone]
Church Office[Name][Phone]

Where to Find Key Documents

Physical and digital locations of critical documents.

Physical Documents

DocumentLocationNotes
Will / Trust[e.g., Fireproof safe in office closet, also with attorney]
Property Deed[Location]
Vehicle Titles[Location]
Birth Certificate[Location]
Social Security Card[Location]
Passport[Location]
Marriage Certificate[Location]
Life Insurance Policy[Location]
Home Insurance Policy[Location]
Auto Insurance Cards[Location]
Tax Returns (recent)[Location]

Safe / Lockbox

Location: [Where is the safe?]

Combination / Key Location: [How to open it — combo, key location, or who else knows]

Contents: [General list of what's inside]

Digital Documents

Document TypeWhere It's StoredHow to Access
Scanned important docs[e.g., Google Drive folder, NAS][See password manager]
Tax documents[Location]
Insurance documents[Location]

Who Needs What

This documentation is written for multiple audiences. Here's a guide to who should read what.

For My Spouse / Partner

You'll need the most from this documentation since you'll be managing the household day-to-day.

Start with:

For Adult Children

You may need to help with the technical and digital side of things.

Focus on:

For the Executor / Attorney

Focus on:

For a Tech-Savvy Friend Helping Out

If someone is helping manage the technical infrastructure: