Instructions for your family.
What they need to know, calmly written down.
You know where the cellar keys are, when the car insurance runs out and who to call if the boiler stops working. But if tomorrow you were away, very busy or simply out of reach, who would know in your place? Here’s how to write down the important things, the instructions for your family, in a single afternoon.
The things only you know
It isn’t about preparing for the worst. It’s about taking a weight off the people you love.
Every family has one person who “knows where everything is”. That works perfectly, as long as that person is a phone call away. All it takes is something unexpected (a long trip, a house move, a particularly busy spell) and whoever is at home has to find everything on their own: a contract, a number, a deadline.
Writing instructions doesn’t mean preparing for the worst. It means taking a weight off the people you love, and off yourself too: once something is written down, you no longer have to remember it.
What to write: the checklist in six areas
You don’t need to fill it all in straight away. Start with the area that worries you most.
- HomeWhere the spare keys, the meter and the water stopcock are. Who to call for the boiler, an electrician, the building manager. The plant that needs watering, which day the recycling goes out.
- DocumentsWhere to find ID cards, health insurance cards, contracts and certificates. In a drawer, in a folder or in digital form.
- Bank and insuranceWhich banks and insurers you use, your adviser’s name, where to find policies and contracts. Never any codes: it’s enough to know who to contact.
- DeadlinesBills, instalments, taxes, the car’s MOT, subscription renewals. What’s paid automatically and what isn’t.
- Useful contactsYour GP, accountant, solicitor, notary, trusted neighbours, employer. Name, number and why to call them.
- People and petsWho picks the children up, school times, who looks after the dog. The little things only you know.
How to write clear instructions
- Write the way you’d talk. “The water stopcock is under the kitchen sink, on the right” is far more useful than “stopcock: kitchen”.
- Say where, not just what. Every piece of information has a place: a drawer, a folder, a file.
- Add the why. “Call Jack, the electrician: he knows the wiring and has the keys to the fuse box.”
- Reread them once a year. Pick a fixed date, like your birthday or the start of the year: ten minutes is all it takes.
The boiler
It’s in the storage cupboard, behind the door on the left. If it stops working, press the red button for 5 seconds.
If it doesn’t start again, call the company that services it every October: the number is on the fridge and they know the system.
The service booklet is in the blue folder, in the top drawer of the desk.
Your instructions, kept safe and ready when they’re needed
You can change them whenever you like, right up to the day of delivery. The people who receive them see nothing before then.
Write and attach
Create an Instructions capsule, write your instructions and attach documents, photos or voice notes.
Choose who will receive them
One or more people you trust. They don’t need to sign up: they receive a personal link and PIN.
Choose when
On a set date, or when your Guardian confirms the time has come.
Instructions for your family: frequently asked questions
Any other questions? Write to us via Help.
Other words, for other moments
What you know,
written down for the people you love.
Start with the first area. The rest can wait.