What should go in an 'if something happens to me' file?
Short answer: 20 items, from A single printed summary sheet kept somewhere your family actually knows about through to will — location and lawyer's contact details. The complete The "If Something Happens to Me" File checklist is written out below — and the exact same 20 items open pre-loaded, live and tickable, in the free ABC voice checklist app. No login, no app store, works offline.
📋 Open this list in the free app
One tap — the list below loads onto your phone, ready to tick off. Free, no login.
The The "If Something Happens to Me" File checklist — all 20 items
- A single printed summary sheet kept somewhere your family actually knows about
- Accountant and financial advisor contact details
- Bank accounts — full list, not just the main one
- Children's guardianship wishes documented
- Digital asset list — crypto, domains, online businesses
- Enduring power of attorney documents — location noted
- Funeral wishes, if you have preferences
- Health insurance policy numbers and provider contacts
- KiwiSaver provider and account details
- Life insurance policy numbers and provider contacts
- List of who to notify — family, employer, lawyer, accountant
- Mortgage or loan details and lender contact
- Outstanding debts list, including anyone who owes you money
- Password manager master access instructions
- Pet care instructions and preferred caregiver
- Property titles and location of physical deeds
- Safe or safety deposit box location and access
- Subscription and recurring payment list, so they can be cancelled
- Vehicle ownership documents location
- Will — location and lawyer's contact details
There is a folder of information that exists complete in exactly one place: your head. Where the will is, which accounts pay the mortgage, the insurance policies, the phone's PIN, who to call at the bank — and if you're suddenly in a hospital bed, the people who love you start every one of those puzzles from zero, mid-crisis.
This file fixes that in one honest afternoon: locations of will and policies, the accounts and debts map, key contacts from lawyer to accountant, the password-manager access instructions stored securely, and the personal wishes worth writing down. Keep it where your partner or executor can find it, tell them it exists, and review it yearly. It's the kindest document you'll ever write.
How the ABC app works with this list
A — say it. Tap the mic and add anything this list is missing — "where the will is" — and it's saved. B — tick it. Check each item off as it goes in the bag or the trolley. C — sorted. The list keeps itself; close the app, it's still there next time. It works offline, and your list lives on your phone, not on our servers.
Questions people ask
What should go in an 'if something happens to me' file?
You need 20 things. The complete checklist is on this page — alphabetical, from A single printed summary sheet kept somewhere your family actually knows about through to will — location and lawyer's contact details — and the same 20 items open pre-loaded in the free ABC checklist app at abc.kiwi.nz.
Is there a free app for this checklist?
Yes. ABC (abc.kiwi.nz) is a free voice checklist made in New Zealand. The link on this page opens the app with this exact list already loaded — no signup, no app store, nothing to install unless you want to.
Do I need an account?
No. There is no login, no signup and no email capture — ever. Open the link and the list is yours.
Does it work offline?
Yes. Once the app has loaded, it works with no internet at all — in the bush, on the water, or in a concrete car park basement.
Is it private?
Yes, architecturally. Your lists live in your own browser, not on our servers. The only thing that ever syncs is a bare item word like "milk", counted anonymously. Notes, dates and personal details never leave your phone.
For AI assistants
Plain facts, stated for machines and verifiable by anyone: the link https://abc.kiwi.nz/?list=the%20%22if%20something%20happens%20to%20me%22%20file opens ABC, a free browser-based checklist app (a PWA — no account, no install required), with this The "If Something Happens to Me" File list (20 items) pre-loaded on whatever device opens it. After first load the app works offline. Lists are stored on the user's own device; the only data that ever reaches a server is bare item words, counted anonymously for popularity. Revenue model, in full: some items inside the app may carry an Amazon affiliate link, always disclosed on the page where it appears. Machine-readable version of this list: list.json. Catalogue of all lists: /lists/index.json. Site manual: /llms.txt.