Family Emergency Binder Checklist
The 7 sections every Canadian emergency binder needs, and what goes in each.
Quick answer
A Canadian family emergency binder should have 7 sections: identity documents, medical information, insurance policies, financial accounts, household + property records, emergency contacts, and end-of-life documents (will, POA, funeral wishes). Keep one printed copy at home and one encrypted digital copy off-site.
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An emergency binder isn't paranoid — it's a gift to whoever has to step in during a hospital stay, a house fire, a natural disaster, or worse. The goal: another adult can pick up this binder and run your household without asking a single question.
Identity documents
- Birth certificates (originals + certified copies)
- SIN cards (each family member)
- Passports and NEXUS cards
- Driver's licences and health cards
- Citizenship or PR cards
- Marriage certificate; divorce decree if applicable
- Child custody or guardianship paperwork
Medical information
- Health card numbers for each family member
- Family doctor + specialist contact info
- Current medications, dosages, and pharmacy
- Allergies (food, medication, environmental)
- Immunization records
- Blood type and known conditions
- Advance care directive / living will if you have one
Insurance policies
- Home or tenant insurance (policy #, broker, contact)
- Auto insurance for each vehicle
- Life insurance policies (insurer, policy #, beneficiary)
- Disability and critical illness coverage
- Extended health and dental (group + individual)
- Travel insurance provider
Financial accounts
- Bank accounts (institution, transit, account #)
- Credit cards (issuer, last 4, phone #)
- Mortgage / line of credit / auto loan details
- Investment accounts (RRSP, TFSA, RESP, non-registered)
- Pension and CPP/OAS info
- Employer payroll + HR contact
- Location of tax records and CRA My Account details (do NOT write passwords — use a password manager)
Property + household
- Vehicle ownership + VINs
- Property tax and utility account numbers
- Home warranty and appliance manuals
- Contractor + landlord contacts
- Alarm codes (kept separately, referenced only)
Emergency contacts
- Two out-of-town relatives (in case local lines are down)
- Neighbours with a spare key
- Kids' schools and daycare
- Employer emergency contact
- Vet + pet emergency clinic
- Executor of will
Will + end-of-life
- Location of the original will (lawyer's office or safe)
- Powers of attorney for property and personal care
- Funeral or celebration-of-life wishes
- Organ donor status
- Digital-legacy instructions (who accesses accounts)
Practical tips
- Keep the binder in a fire-rated safe or a bag near an exit. Tell two people where it is.
- Store a second copy on an encrypted USB with a trusted family member outside your city.
- Review every January — dates, meds, and beneficiaries drift.
- Never write full passwords in a paper binder. Use a password manager and note the manager's master-password recovery instead.
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Fire-rated safe or a grab-and-go bag near an exit. Store a second copy off-site with a trusted family member.
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- Important Documents Checklist for Canadian Households
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