Guide
Deployment Emergency Binder: A Checklist for Military Families
Before a deployment or long training period, the family left at home has to run everything: bills, the car, the kids, a power of attorney that actually works. A well-organized binder means your spouse or a trusted person is never stuck on hold trying to figure out where something is.
Before the service member leaves
- Legal papers. A will, a general or special power of attorney, and a healthcare directive. Installation legal assistance offices generally prepare these for service members at no cost. Ask which type of power of attorney your bank, landlord or lender will accept.
- Family care plan. Single parents and dual-military couples are usually required to have one. Your unit can tell you the form and the steps.
- Benefits and records. Confirm DEERS enrollment, TRICARE coverage, beneficiary designations on life insurance (SGLI) and the Thrift Savings Plan, and where the service member's key records are kept, such as discharge papers once available.
- Contacts. The unit's family readiness point of contact, the chain of command contact for emergencies, the Red Cross emergency messaging number, the family's doctor, school contacts and trusted neighbors.
The household binder
List every bill with its due date, the account it comes from and whether it is on autopay. Add the mortgage or lease contact, insurance policies, vehicle titles and registration, utility accounts, the car and home maintenance numbers, pet records and the children's medical and school information. Note where the safe-deposit box key or fireproof box is.
Who does what while they are away
Write down who holds the power of attorney, who the spouse can call for a ride, a repair or a babysitter in an emergency, and who the backup is for each. Share the location of the binder with at least one person on each side of the family.
Keep logins safe
Do not write passwords in the binder. Note which password manager the family uses and where its recovery information is stored, and make sure the spouse has access before the deployment begins.
After they return
Review the binder together. Update beneficiaries, accounts and contacts, and keep it as the family's standing emergency plan. It will be just as useful the next time it is needed.
Put it all in one place
The Military Family edition of The Paper Trail has sections built for deployments. The free Lite tool covers the five most important pages.
Frequently asked questions
What legal papers should we have before a deployment?
Most families look at a will, a power of attorney that your bank and landlord will accept, and a healthcare directive. Installation legal assistance offices generally prepare these for service members at no cost.
What is a family care plan?
A plan for who will care for dependents if the service member is deployed or unavailable. Single parents and dual-military couples are usually required to have one. Your unit can tell you the form and steps.
Where do I find help while my spouse is deployed?
Your unit's family readiness contact is the first stop. Military OneSource and the Red Cross emergency messaging service are other resources.
Should passwords go in the binder?
No. Note which password manager your family uses and where its recovery information is kept, and make sure the spouse can access it before deployment.
AuraByRobbie sells The Paper Trail on Etsy. This guide is general information, not legal, tax, financial or medical advice.