In Case I Die Binder: Everything Your Family Needs in One Place

When someone dies, the hardest part for the family is often finding things. The will, the insurance policies, the passwords, the bank accounts. An in case I die binder puts all of it in one place, so the people you love can find it the day they need it.

What is an in case I die binder?

An in case I die binder (also called a death binder or an in case of death binder) is one place that holds everything your family will need if you pass away or can't speak for yourself: legal documents, insurance, accounts, medical information, and the wishes only you know. It doesn't replace a will. It makes sure your family can actually find the will, and everything else, on day one.

Without one, families spend weeks searching through filing cabinets, old emails and boxes. Policies and accounts nobody knew about can go unclaimed for years. The NAIC's Life Insurance Policy Locator has helped families find more than $16 billion in benefits they didn't know existed.

What to put in it

Legal

• Will and living will
• Power of attorney
• Trust documents
• Marriage or divorce papers

Identity

• Birth certificate
• Social Security card
• Passport

Insurance

• Life insurance policies and numbers
• Health, home and auto policies
• Long term care policy

Money

• Bank and retirement accounts
• Investments and pensions
• Debts and loans
• Recent tax returns

Property

• House deed or lease
• Car titles
• Safe deposit box and key location

Medical

• Medication list
• Doctors and pharmacy
• Healthcare directive

Final wishes

• Funeral and burial wishes
• Who to notify, with phone numbers
• A letter to your family

How to set it up in an afternoon

1. Gather everything. Walk through the house once: the filing cabinet, the desk, the kitchen drawer, the closet box.
2. Pick your labels. Choose the ones that fit your papers and stick one on each pocket.
3. File each document and fill in the contents page and emergency contact sheet at the front.
4. Tell one or two people where it is. A binder nobody can find doesn't help.
5. Update it once a year, or after a big change like a move or a new policy.

Why a binder, and not a drawer, a safe or an app?

• A drawer or filing cabinet holds papers, but nobody else knows which ones matter.
• A safe deposit box can be hard for family to open quickly after a death.
• A digital vault only helps if your family knows it exists and can get in.
• A binder needs no password and no instructions. Your family opens one book and everything is there.

Questions

Is an in case I die binder the same as a will?

No. Your will says who gets what. The binder makes sure your family can find the will and everything else they need to carry it out: policies, accounts, deeds and your wishes.

Where should I keep it?

Somewhere easy to reach that your family knows about, like a home office shelf or a closet. Tell at least one person where it is.

Is the LifeTrove fireproof?

The LifeTrove itself is not fireproof. For fire and water protection, keep it inside the FireGuard Pro fireproof bag.

Do the pockets come labeled?

No. You get 66 labels, 33 printed and 33 blank, and you choose the ones that fit your papers and stick them on yourself.

How often should I update it?

Once a year, and any time something big changes, like a new insurance policy, a new account, a move or a change to your will.