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)
Contact family and close friends — see the Important Contacts page in this book.
Do NOT rush to cancel anything. Auto-pay will keep bills and subscriptions running. You have time.
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.
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.
Find important physical documents — see "Where to Find Key Documents" in this book.
Within the First Week
Notify employer / business contacts — [list employer name, HR contact, or business partner info here]
Contact insurance companies — life insurance, health insurance, auto, home (details in the Home & Property book).
Notify the mortgage lender — see "Ownership & Mortgage" in the Home & Property book.
Contact the bank(s) — [list primary bank and contact info]
Consult an attorney if needed — [attorney name and number, or "see Important Contacts"]
Within the First Month
Review all subscriptions and recurring charges — see the Subscriptions chapter in Digital Life.
Decide what self-hosted services to keep running or shut down — see "How to Keep Running or Shut Down" in Digital Life.
Update vehicle registrations and insurance as needed.
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
Name
Relationship
Phone
Email
Notes
[Name]
[Spouse/Parent/Sibling]
[Phone]
[Email]
[e.g., Has spare house key]
[Name]
[Relationship]
[Phone]
[Email]
[Name]
[Relationship]
[Phone]
[Email]
Professional / Legal
Role
Name / Firm
Phone
Email
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
Name
Phone
Notes
[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
Role
Name
Phone
Pastor
[Name]
[Phone]
Church Office
[Name]
[Phone]

Where to Find Key Documents
Physical and digital locations of critical documents.
Physical Documents
Document
Location
Notes
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 Type
Where It's Stored
How 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:
This entire "Read This First" book
Home & Property → Utilities & Bills (to keep things running)
Home & Property → Smart Home & Security (to manage the house systems)
Digital Life → Getting Access to Everything (password manager is key)
Digital Life → Subscriptions & Memberships (to review what to keep/cancel)
For Adult Children
You may need to help with the technical and digital side of things.
Focus on:
"Immediate Steps" in this book
Digital Life → Self-Hosted Services (decisions about keeping servers running)
Digital Life → Social Media & Digital Legacy
Home & Property → Smart Home & Security (if you need to help troubleshoot)
For the Executor / Attorney
Focus on:
"Where to Find Key Documents" in this book
"Important Contacts" in this book
Home & Property → The House (ownership and mortgage details)
Home & Property → Vehicles (titles, registration)
For a Tech-Savvy Friend Helping Out
If someone is helping manage the technical infrastructure:
Digital Life → Self-Hosted Services (everything about servers and services)
Digital Life → Getting Access to Everything (how to get into systems)
Home & Property → Smart Home & Security (network and device info)
Also see the existing books on the "Current Info" shelf: "2 - Network Info" and "3 - Computers / Servers" for deeper technical details.