Free readiness check
Would your family be ready tomorrow?
Eight questions count the papers and settings you say are in place. Review your answers by Standard group, print your result and compare a later check through a private link. This samples eight of the 25 Standard checks.
Your results
What do your Standard groups show?
Start with these
All eight answers
This shows what you believe is in place. In the Family Drill, a practice run, the people you choose try their first steps so you know they work. This check isn't legal advice.
Your private link
Anyone with this link can see this result and its previous comparison. Keep it private.
A comparison needs a complete previous check about the same person. Unsaved results outside a Gap Check expire after 30 days. To compare next year, keep the private link from results you saved by email. A reminder does not save your results.
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When should you come back?
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How does this tool work?
- 1What it does
Eight questions about the papers and settings your family would need first. Your results list what is in place and what to do next.
- 2How it decides
Yes counts as in place. No, Not sure and unanswered questions stay in the count. Exclusions leave the count. Four groups are sampled. People and practice is not measured. Counts reflect reported answers.
- 3Your answers
Unsaved server results outside a Gap Check expire after 30 days. Your browser keeps your latest standalone answers for Get started. Clear browser storage to remove that copy. Yearly reminders need separate consent.
- 4What it is based on
The questions sample the Family Readiness Standard, our list of 25 checks. The group map links all eight questions. Review again each year or after a change.
- 5What it doesn't do
It does not verify readiness or choose legal papers. Talk with a lawyer in your state about legal questions. It covers the United States. This is general information, not legal, medical or financial advice.
How can you count the group answers?
These eight questions sample the 25-check Family Readiness Standard. They do not measure all 25 checks or verify papers, settings or legal authority. People and practice is not measured by these eight questions.
Count Yes answers within each group. Count every question in that group except an answer marked as an exclusion. No, Not sure and unanswered questions stay in the count and add no Yes. Do not average the group percentages. The overall count adds the Yes answers and counted questions across the groups.
Choosing an exclusion is your answer. It does not establish legal non-applicability. No will and None do not show that legal papers are unnecessary. Talk with a lawyer in your state about legal questions.
If every question in a sampled group is excluded, show Nothing counted. Do not turn zero counted questions into a percentage. Keep No, Not sure, unanswered and excluded counts visible alongside the Yes count.
Papers
This group starts with 3 questions. Remove only the answers marked as exclusions from its count. Count each Yes once.
| Free-check question | Linked Standard check | Exclusion label |
|---|---|---|
| Does anyone besides you know where your original will is? | Standard check 1. Someone besides you knows where your original will is. | No will |
| If you couldn't make decisions tomorrow, does your bank already have your power of attorney on file? | Standard check 2. Each bank that would need your power of attorney has it on file. | None |
| Could your doctors find your health care proxy or advance directive today? | Standard check 3. Your doctors and your family can find your health care proxy or advance directive. | None |
Money
This group starts with 2 questions. Remove only the answers marked as exclusions from its count. Count each Yes once.
| Free-check question | Linked Standard check | Exclusion label |
|---|---|---|
| Have you named a trusted contact at each brokerage where you have an account? | Standard check 8. Each of your brokerage accounts has a trusted contact on file. | No brokerage |
| Have you told Social Security who should manage your benefits if you ever can't? | Standard check 9. You've told Social Security who should manage your benefits if you ever need help. | No Social Security |
Health and benefits
This group starts with 1 question. Remove only the answers marked as exclusions from its count. Count each Yes once.
| Free-check question | Linked Standard check | Exclusion label |
|---|---|---|
| Can Medicare talk to someone you choose about your claims? | Standard check 12. Medicare has your written permission, on form CMS-10106, to talk with someone you choose. | Not on Medicare |
Phone and online
This group starts with 2 questions. Remove only the answers marked as exclusions from its count. Count each Yes once.
| Free-check question | Linked Standard check | Exclusion label |
|---|---|---|
| If you died, could someone you trust request your photos and files through Apple Legacy Contact or Google Inactive Account Manager? | Standard check 16. Apple Legacy Contact or Google Inactive Account Manager is set up, if you use them. | Uses neither |
| Does someone you trust have emergency access to your password manager? | Standard check 17. If your password manager offers emergency access, someone you trust has it. | No password manager |
People and practice
Not measured by these eight questions. Review this group in the full Family Readiness Standard.