For families
Put your family's emergency plan on paper
If you were in the hospital tomorrow, could someone find your doctor, your medications, your will and the bills that have to be paid? Here's what to write down, and which papers need signing.
Write these down
Who to call
Family, neighbors, doctors, your attorney, your insurance agent, and whoever takes the pets.
Medical
Medications and doses, allergies, conditions, your preferred hospital, and your health care representative.
Where things are
The original will, deeds, titles, policies and certificates, and who has copies. Never the passwords or account numbers themselves.
What can't stop
Bills on autopay and bills that aren't, the mortgage or rent, medications that need refills, and anyone who depends on you.
The papers that need signing, and how New Jersey requires it
| Document | How it's signed |
|---|---|
| Will | Signed by you, and by at least two witnesses within a reasonable time after they see you sign or acknowledge it. A notarized self-proving affidavit makes probate simpler. (N.J.S.A. 3B:3-2) |
| Power of attorney | In writing, signed and acknowledged, which in practice means notarized. (N.J.S.A. 46:2B-8.9) |
| Advance directive (health care proxy, living will) | Signed in front of two adult witnesses, or acknowledged before a notary, attorney or other person authorized to give oaths. Your health care representative can't be a witness. (N.J.S.A. 26:2H-56) |
Have an attorney draft or review a will or power of attorney. A mistake usually doesn't show until it's too late to fix.
A 72-hour plan
Pick a meeting place near home and one outside the neighborhood, and an out-of-town contact everyone checks in with. Pack a go-bag for each person with water, food, a week of medications, a light, a charger, copies of ID and some cash. (Ready.gov)
Need the papers notarized?
We come to homes, hospitals and nursing homes for powers of attorney, advance directives and will affidavits. Estate planning notary · Hospital and nursing home visits
Helping a parent with all of this? See caring for an aging parent.
Printable kit
Family Emergency Binder
Printable pages for contacts, medical details, documents, household and pets, a 72-hour plan and a letter to the person who steps in.
General information, checked November 2026. Not legal advice. MCC Solutions is not a law firm.
Questions
Does a will need to be notarized in New Jersey?
No. It needs your signature and two witnesses. A self-proving affidavit, signed before a notary, is optional but makes probate simpler.
Does a power of attorney need to be notarized?
Yes, in practice. New Jersey requires it to be acknowledged, which a notary or other authorized officer does.
Can my health care representative witness my advance directive?
No. New Jersey law says the person you name can't be a witness. Use two other adults or a notary.
Should I write my passwords in the binder?
No. Write where they are kept, such as a password manager with emergency access, so a lost binder doesn't expose your accounts.