The Dandelion 'Get Ready' Checklist

If something happened to you tomorrow, someone else would need to keep your household running: pick up the kids, feed the dog, pay the mortgage. Most families haven't written any of this down. This checklist covers the practical, findable information a family needs first, before any legal paperwork comes into play.

What is a "Get Ready" checklist?

A get ready checklist is a short list of practical, everyday information, not legal documents, that lets someone else step in and keep a household running for a week or two. It covers who to call, who depends on you daily, where money moves automatically, and where a few physical things are kept. You might know this idea as a family emergency binder, an ICE (in case of emergency) binder, or a family information binder; Dandelion just calls it the 'Get Ready' Checklist. It's a starting point, not a substitute for a Will, Power of Attorney, or full estate plan.

Who To Call Right Away

If something happened, someone needs to know who to reach, and in what order.

•  Emergency contact order: who gets called first, second, third
•  One person who already knows how to reach everyone else on this list
•  Your religious organization or community, if that matters to your family

The People Who Depend On You Daily

The parts of the week that don't pause for anything.

•  Each kid's school name and the best contact there
•  Childcare provider's name and phone number
•  Any activities, lessons, or standing plans someone would need to know about
•  Shared family calendar: where it lives and how someone would get into it
•  Your pet's vet: practice name and phone number
•  A backup person for your pet, and their number
•  Feeding and care routine, in plain language

Money That Doesn't Stop

Bills don't check in on you. Someone else will need to.

•  Mortgage or rent: who it's paid to, and the monthly amount
•  The recurring bills that would bounce first if nobody stepped in, insurance premiums included
•  Which accounts are on autopay, and how someone would actually get into them
•  Any recurring subscriptions worth knowing about, if only to cancel them

Things Someone Would Actually Have To Find

The stuff that only exists in one place, and only you know where.

•  Where the spare key is
•  The water shutoff valve location
•  The breaker box or electrical panel location
•  A fireproof box or safe, and how to open it
•  Wifi network name and password
•  Home insurance: company and policy number
•  Car insurance: company and policy number

If They Need A Doctor

For your kids, your pets, or you.

•  Primary care provider's name and phone number
•  Pharmacy name and location
•  Where the insurance card lives, plus member and group numbers

Everyone Else Worth Keeping On Speed Dial

The people who quietly keep a household running.

•  Attorney, accountant, financial advisor, or insurance agent, if you work with one
•  Plumber, electrician, HVAC, or handyman you'd actually call again
•  Landscaper or cleaner, if that's part of your routine
•  Mechanic, and where the car gets serviced

Your Digital Life

The accounts that don't come to mind until you actually need them.

•  Password manager: which one you use (a tool like 1Password counts), and how someone would get into it
•  Crypto: which exchange or wallet, and where the recovery phrase or keys are kept
•  Apple, Google, and Meta legacy contact settings: covered step-by-step in Three Digital Settings That Take Ten Minutes and Will Save Your Family a Lot of Frustration

Frequently asked questions

What should I include in a family emergency checklist? The essentials are emergency contacts, childcare and pet care details, recurring bills and autopay access, a couple of physical locations (spare key, water shutoff), everyday medical providers, and any household service people. Legal documents like a Will or Power of Attorney are a separate step.

Is this the same thing as an estate plan? No. This checklist covers the practical, day-to-day information a family needs immediately. An estate plan covers legal decisions: who inherits what (your Will), who has authority to act on your behalf (your Power of Attorney), and how your wishes get carried out. Most people benefit from having both.

Where should I keep this information once I've gathered it? Anywhere a trusted person can actually access it: a shared document, a password manager note, or a platform built for this specific purpose, like Dandelion. The format matters less than making sure at least one other person knows it exists and where to find it.

How often should I update it? We recommend a quick pass twice a year, or whenever something on the list changes: a new bank account, a new pediatrician, a new pet sitter. Most emergency binders are static the moment you print them, so this kind of information drifts out of date fast. With Dandelion, that part gets easier: Dandie notices when something's likely changed and nudges you to update it, so your plan reflects life today, not the day you built it.

Related: Three Digital Settings That Take Ten Minutes and Will Save Your Family a Lot of Frustration and 5 Things to Ask Your Parents About Their Estate Plan.

This list is a starting point, not a finish line. Every family's version looks a little different, and it's normal for it to feel like a lot all at once. That's what Dandelion is for: navigating the practical side of keeping your family running, right alongside the legal and the personal, and keeping all of it current as life changes. The person you wrote down under "Who To Call Right Away"? In Dandelion, that becomes your Keyholder. Start my plan.

Dandelion is personalized, step-by-step estate and legacy planning for families, bringing legal paperwork, practical details, and personal keepsakes together in one shareable plan.

Dandelion is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. State laws vary. For advice specific to your situation, consult a qualified estate planning professional.