1. The “Where Is Everything?” Test

If you were suddenly hospitalized and couldn't answer questions, could your spouse, partner or another trusted person quickly find the critical information, documents, contacts and instructions they would need to manage things for you?

2. The Password Problem

If something happened to you tomorrow, could the right person securely access the important accounts and digital information they would actually need, without guessing passwords, hunting through scraps of paper or discovering that everything is locked inside your phone?

3. Imagine Your Home Is Gone

A fire, tornado, flood or wildfire destroys your home.

Could you reconstruct your important life information from somewhere else, including identification, insurance information, financial records, important documents and other essential records?

4. The Irreplaceable Stuff

If your home, computer and phone were all lost tonight, how confident are you that your family photographs, important personal records and other irreplaceable digital files could still be recovered?

5. The Ten-Minute Challenge

If you suddenly needed your insurance policies, account information, identification records, medical information, key contacts or other critical documents, could you locate what you needed in 10 minutes or less?

No archaeological dig through filing cabinets allowed.

6. Could You Stay Put for 72 Hours?

If a major storm or disaster shut down stores, utilities and normal services, could everyone in your household safely function at home for at least 72 hours with adequate water, food, medications, lighting, communications and essential supplies?

7. Thirty Minutes. Go.

Authorities tell you to evacuate.

Could your household be out the door within 30 minutes with the people, pets, medications, critical documents, clothing, supplies and other things you would genuinely need?

8. “I'll Just Call You” Stops Working

If cell service, internet access or electrical power failed, does your family have a realistic way to communicate, reconnect or know where to go if everyone isn't together?

9. What Disaster Actually Threatens You?

Have you identified the natural disasters most likely to affect where you live, work or travel, and do you know what you would actually do before, during and immediately after them?

Knowing that tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, earthquakes or wildfires exist doesn't count as a plan.

10. You're Not Home When It Happens

If you became stranded in your vehicle, at work or away from home during an emergency, would you have enough essential supplies and a workable plan to safely manage until you could get home or reach help?

Knowing that tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, earthquakes or wildfires exist doesn't count as a plan.

11. If You Couldn't Speak for Yourself

If illness or injury suddenly left you unable to communicate, would the right people know who should make medical and financial decisions, what you want, and where the necessary documents are?

Knowing that tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, earthquakes or wildfires exist doesn't count as a plan.

12. Could Your Family Find the Road Map?

If you died unexpectedly, would the people handling your affairs know where to find your will or trust, insurance information, financial accounts, important contacts, property information and other essential records?Knowing that tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, earthquakes or wildfires exist doesn't count as a plan.

13. Do They Know What You Want?

Would your family know your wishes concerning things such as burial or cremation, funeral or memorial preferences, important people to contact, and other end-of-life decisions?

14. Now Turn the Question Around

If an aging parent or another person you may someday need to help suddenly became seriously ill or died, would you know where their critical documents, medical information, financial information, passwords, contacts and end-of-life wishes were located?

15. The “Last Person Standing” Test

If you were the person left responsible for wrapping up someone's affairs, would you know enough to handle the immediate decisions, locate what matters and avoid having important information disappear with the person who knew it?