What your family needs to know if something happens to you
In most households, one person quietly holds the map: which bank the mortgage is with, when the car insurance renews, where the will is, who the dog's vet is. If that person is suddenly in hospital — or gone — everyone else is left guessing at the worst possible time. This checklist covers what to write down, where to keep it, and the legal documents that make the rest possible.
The "If something happens to me" checklist
A printable checklist of everything your family would need: insurance, KiwiSaver, vehicles, pets, your will and who to call.
1. People and contacts
The first thing anyone will need is a list of who to ring.
Key contacts
- Partner, next of kin and anyone you'd want told quickly
- Who can look after the kids or pets at short notice
- Your employer or business contacts, if you're self-employed
- Your lawyer, accountant and financial adviser
- A trusted neighbour with a spare key
2. Medical information
This is the information most often needed in a hurry — and often held by just one person.
For each person in the household
- GP name, practice and phone number
- Known conditions, current medications and allergies
- Any specialists they see
- Health insurance provider and policy number
Also set up the emergency medical information on your phone (Medical ID on iPhone, or emergency information on Android). Ambulance staff can see it from the lock screen without your passcode.
3. Money and insurance
Bills keep arriving whatever else is happening. Someone needs to know what exists and where.
Bank accounts
- Which banks, what each account is for, and whose name it's in
- What comes out automatically — mortgage, rates, power, insurance
- Where bills arrive (email, app, post)
Accounts in one person's name usually can't be used by anyone else if that person is incapacitated or dies — even a partner. That's one reason powers of attorney matter (see below).
Insurance policies
- House, contents, car, life, income protection, health, travel
- Insurer, policy number, claims phone number, and renewal month for each
- Who the broker is, if you use one
KiwiSaver and investments
- KiwiSaver provider and member number for each adult
- Investment platforms, shares, managed funds and term deposits
- Any money owed to or by you — loans, debts, credit cards
4. Home, vehicles and pets
The practical stuff that keeps the household running week to week.
Property
- Mortgage lender, account number and when any fixed rate ends — or landlord and property manager details if you rent
- Rates, power, gas, water and broadband providers and account numbers
- Where the water mains, power board and gas shut-off are
- Trusted tradespeople: plumber, electrician, builder
Vehicles
- Plate, make and model for each vehicle
- When the WOF and rego are due
- Insurer and roadside assistance membership
Pets
- Vet practice and phone number
- Microchip numbers and council registration for dogs
- Food, feeding routine and any medications
- Who could look after them at short notice
5. Subscriptions and digital accounts
More of life is online than most people realise — until someone has to untangle it.
What to record
- Email addresses — these unlock almost everything else
- Apple ID or Google account
- Government accounts such as myIR and RealMe
- Streaming, music and other subscriptions that will keep charging
- Social media accounts, and what you'd want done with them
Record the account and the email or username — not the password. Keep passwords in a password manager, and set up its emergency access feature. Apple (Legacy Contact) and Google (Inactive Account Manager) also let you nominate someone to access your account if you die or stop using it.
6. Your will and powers of attorney
Your list tells your family what exists. These documents give them the legal authority to actually act on it.
A will — and where it's kept
If you die without a will, your estate is divided according to a set formula in the law, which may not match what you'd want — and it usually takes longer to sort out. Record where the original is held (often with your lawyer or a trustee company), who your executor is, and how to contact them.
Enduring powers of attorney (EPAs)
An EPA lets someone you trust make decisions for you if you can't. In New Zealand there are two separate types, and it's recommended to have both:
- Property — your money, bank accounts, bills and property. You can choose for it to start straight away or only if you lose capacity.
- Personal care and welfare — decisions about medical treatment, where you live and your day-to-day care. This only takes effect if you lose capacity.
Your partner does not automatically have this authority. Without EPAs, your family may have to apply to the Family Court before they can act for you — which takes time and money when they can least afford either. Record who your attorneys are and where the documents are kept.
This is general information, not legal advice. Talk to a lawyer or trustee company about your own situation.
7. Where to keep it and who to tell
A perfect list nobody can find is no use at all.
Make it findable
- Tell at least two people that the information exists and how to get to it.
- Keep a printed copy somewhere safe but accessible — not only in your head or on your phone.
- Give a copy to your executor or attorney, or to your lawyer with your will.
Keep it current
An out-of-date list can be worse than none: the old insurer, the closed account, the GP who retired. Review it whenever something changes — a new car, a new policy, a move — and give the whole thing a once-over at least once a year.
HomeTrack builds this list with you
HomeTrack's ICE profile walks you through every section on this page — contacts, medical, insurance, finance, KiwiSaver, property, vehicles, pets, digital accounts and estate details — for each person in your household. It reminds you to review sections that haven't been checked in a while, and exports a clean PDF to print or hand to your executor.
Start your ICE profile free → No credit card required · We never store your passwords · Made in New ZealandCommon questions
Does my partner automatically have power of attorney in NZ?
No. Being married or in a relationship doesn't give your partner an enduring power of attorney. If you lose capacity without one, your family may need to apply to the Family Court before they can make decisions for you.
What are the two types of enduring power of attorney in NZ?
One covers property and money; the other covers personal care and welfare, such as medical treatment and where you live. A property EPA can take effect straight away or only if you lose capacity. A personal care and welfare EPA only takes effect if you lose capacity.
Should I write down my passwords for my family?
Not in an ICE document. Record which accounts exist and the email or username for each, and keep passwords in a password manager with its own emergency access feature. That way a lost or shared document doesn't expose your accounts.