{"id":4104,"date":"2011-06-30T22:17:00","date_gmt":"2011-07-01T05:17:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.bspcn.com\/?p=4104"},"modified":"2011-06-30T22:17:00","modified_gmt":"2011-07-01T05:17:00","slug":"how-to-create-an-in-case-of-emergency-everything-document-to-keep-your-loved-ones-informed-if-worst-comes-to-worst","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/localhost\/wordpress\/2011\/06\/30\/how-to-create-an-in-case-of-emergency-everything-document-to-keep-your-loved-ones-informed-if-worst-comes-to-worst\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Create an In-Case-of-Emergency Everything Document to Keep Your Loved Ones Informed if Worst Comes to Worst"},"content":{"rendered":"

Written by Melanie Pinola<\/a><\/p>\n

f you were hit by a bus today or were otherwise incapacitated, would your loved ones be able to quickly locate your important information or know how to handle your affairs? Many of us have a great handle on our finances, but our record keeping systems might not be obvious to family members or friends who might need immediate access to them in times of emergency. Here’s a step-by-step guide to organizing your vital information so it can be conveniently and safely accessed when needed.<\/p>\n

The Goal: A Master Document or Folder with All Your Important Information<\/h5>\n

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Perhaps the easiest method for creating a centralized document or set of files would be creating a Google Spreadsheet that you could share with your family and friends and keep updated regularly. We’ve created a basic Master Information Kit template<\/a> just for this purpose. The spreadsheet includes prompts for the information below, but you can customize it for your particular needs. To use the template for yourself, in Google Docs go to File > Make a copy… to save it to your Google account (make sure your version of the document’s sharing settings go back to the default “Private”).<\/p>\n

Update<\/strong><\/em>: Due to high traffic to the template, Google Docs is only showing it in list view, making it impossible to copy. This zipped file<\/a> has downloadable versions in PDF, XLS, and ODS formats. You can still import these into your Google Docs account.<\/p>\n

There are really only a few steps to setting this organizer up: gathering your records, securely sharing them, and keeping them updated. Follow along and you’ll have your kit set up in no time\u2014and a little extra peace of mind.<\/p>\n

Step 1: Gather Your Vital Records to Keep in the Master Information Kit<\/h5>\n

The most important personal records<\/strong>: First, there are a few documents that you obviously should keep in a secured location (a fire safe or safe deposit box):<\/p>\n