--- title: "Family Emergency Plan: What to Write Down and Sign in NJ" description: "A free guide to putting your family's emergency plan on paper: who to call, medical details, where documents are, and how New Jersey requires wills, powers…" url: "https://mcc-solutionsnj.com/notary/family-emergency-plan" --- 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. ✓ New Jersey commissioned notary, no. 50244803, insured for errors and omissions. [See the credentials](/about/credentials) ## 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](https://law.justia.com/codes/new-jersey/title-3b/section-3b-3-2/)) | | Power of attorney | In writing, signed and acknowledged, which in practice means notarized. ([N.J.S.A. 46:2B-8.9](https://law.justia.com/codes/new-jersey/title-46/section-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](https://law.justia.com/codes/new-jersey/title-26/section-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. ## Get it notarized online today Online notary: open now until 9 PM ET · sessions by appointment · times confirmed by email A New Jersey notary can notarize this with you on a video call, wherever you are in the U.S. $50 for the session, $10 for each extra signer. Any other fee shows in the booking form before you confirm. Open 7 am to 9 pm ET, every day, by appointment. **What you need** - A valid government photo ID - A computer or phone with a camera - The unsigned document [Book an online session](/notary/?service=ron#order) Our certificate states the act was performed using communication technology, as New Jersey law requires. [What it must say](/notary/remote-online-notarization-certificate-wording) Most U.S. recipients accept a remotely notarized document; check with whoever will receive it. [What to ask them](/notary/will-my-online-notarization-be-accepted) · [Several signers](/notary/online-notarization-multiple-signers) ## 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](https://www.ready.gov/kit)) ## Need the papers notarized? We come to homes, hospitals and nursing homes for powers of attorney, advance directives and will affidavits. [Estate planning notary](/notary/estate-planning-notary) · [Hospital and nursing home visits](/notary/hospital-notary) Helping a parent with all of this? See [caring for an aging parent](/notary/caring-for-aging-parents). 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. [See what's inside ($19)](/toolkits/family-emergency-binder) [Free sample](/toolkits/family-emergency-binder#free-starter)14-day full refund 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. ## Need a notary? Send it to the desk. [Book Now](/notary/#order)[Call (908) 444-6373](tel:+19084446373)