The flagship workbook
The 72-Hour File
Twelve sections that hold the documents, accounts, and wishes your family will be asked about. You fill it in once. They read it when they need it.
$37
PDF. No account required.
All four workbooks together are Four Files, One Folder, $67. See Four Files, One Folder.
See the pages
Twenty-eight pages, US Letter. These are four of them, exactly as they print.
The cover.
Page 2 of 28. If I cannot be reached, this is the page.
Page 6 of 28. Every account by institution and type. No numbers.
Page 17 of 28. Ten lines for the people who will read them.
Who it is for
- You want your own affairs in order and do not know where to start.
- You have documents, but they are in four places and one of them is a password manager nobody else can open.
- You are the organized one in the family and you have accepted that this is now your job.
- You have been through this once already for someone else and do not want to repeat it.
The twelve sections
- 01Personal and household factslegal name, prior names, addresses, birth and marriage records
- 02People to contactwho gets called first, second, and not at all
- 03Advance directive and healthcare proxywho speaks for you when you cannot
- 04Power of attorneywho signs for you, and the limits you set
- 05Will, trust, and where the originals livethe documents and the safe, the box, the attorney
- 06Bank, retirement, and investment accountsinstitution, account type, beneficiary on file
- 07Insurancelife, health, long-term care, policy numbers and agents
- 08Property and titleshome, vehicles, land, storage, safe deposit
- 09Recurring bills and subscriptionswhat keeps drafting after a death
- 10Digital life and passwordsdevices, email, photos, legacy contacts
- 11Funeral, burial, or cremation wisheswhat you want and what you have already paid for
- 12Letters and instructionsanything that is not a form
What it is not
It is not a will
It records where your will is and what it says. It does not replace one, and it is not signed or witnessed.
It is not a legal form
Nothing in it is filed with a court or a state.
It is not legal, tax, or financial advice
It is organization.
It is not a subscription
You buy it once. There is no account and no login.
It is not a password manager
It tells your family which accounts exist and how to reach them. Where you record credentials is your decision, and the digital section explains the safer options.
What you get
The 72-Hour File, print edition
PDF sized for US Letter, formatted to print single-sided and go straight into a three-ring binder
The 72-Hour File, screen edition
the same twelve sections as a fillable PDF
The one-page summary
where the binder lives and who to call, meant to go on a refrigerator or in a wallet
The wallet card
the two phone numbers and the location, cut to size
Delivered as a download immediately after checkout.
$37
PDF. No account required.
All four workbooks together are Four Files, One Folder, $67. See Four Files, One Folder.
Questions
- Is this state-specific?
- No. The 72-Hour File records your information and points you to the correct state form where one is needed. Advance directives and powers of attorney are state-specific documents and should be completed on your state's form.
- Do I need a lawyer too?
- For a will, a trust, or a power of attorney, usually yes. The 72-Hour File is what you bring to that appointment so you are not paying hourly to assemble a list.
- Is it printed and mailed?
- No. It is a PDF you download and print yourself, or fill in on a screen.
- Can my spouse and I share one?
- You can, but two copies work better. Each of you names different people and holds different accounts. Four Files, One Folder is the cheaper way to get more than one workbook.
- What if I do not have most of this?
- Then the 72-Hour File is mostly blank, and that is still useful. A short honest answer is better than a thorough guess.
- Are sales final?
- Yes. These are digital files, so all sales are final. The section list on this page is complete, so you can see exactly what you are buying before you do.
This guide is for organization and education. It is not legal, tax, financial, or funeral advice. Laws and cemetery rules differ by state and by property. Official documents should be completed with an attorney or the correct state or institution form.