Emergency Contact

Welcome, Emergency Contact

You've been designated as a trusted emergency contact. This guide will help you understand your role, accept your invitation, and be ready when needed most.

1

What is an Emergency Contact?

An Emergency Contact is a trusted person designated by a Will Owner to serve as a point of contact during urgent or emergency situations. Unlike Authorised Representatives, Emergency Contacts do not have access to will documents but play a critical role in notifying representatives when something happens to the Will Owner.

Your Role at a Glance

As an Emergency Contact, your primary responsibilities include:

  • Being available during emergency situations
  • Providing assistance when the Will Owner cannot be reached
  • Helping coordinate care or support when needed
  • Responding promptly when contacted in critical situations

How This Differs from Representatives

Emergency Contact:

  • • Notification role only
  • • No access to will documents
  • • Available during emergencies
  • • Responds to urgent situations

Authorised Representative:

  • • Full access to will documents
  • • Can download and use files
  • • Makes authorized decisions
  • • Executes the will when needed
2

How the Invitation Process Works

When someone designates you as their Emergency Contact, you'll receive an email invitation. Here's the complete process:

Step 1: Receive Email Invitation

You'll receive an email explaining your role as an Emergency Contact, including the relationship type (e.g., family member, friend, colleague) and what's expected of you.

Step 2: Create Account or Login

New users: The email will include a temporary password. Use it to create your account and change your password immediately after your first login.

Existing users: You'll receive a magic link to log in directly without needing a password.

Step 3: Accept the Invitation

Navigate to Dashboard → Responsibilities and review your invitation details. Click "Accept Invitation" to confirm your role as an Emergency Contact.

Step 4: Keep Information Current

Ensure your contact information (phone number, email) is always up to date so you can be reached quickly in an emergency.

Time-Sensitive

Invitations expire after 7 days. If your invitation expires before you can accept it, contact the person who sent it to request a new invitation.

Learn More About Accepting Invitations
3

What You Can Do as an Emergency Contact

Once you've accepted your invitation, you'll have access to your Emergency Contact dashboard with specific features:

View Your Role Details

See your relationship to the Will Owner and confirm your role details in the dashboard.

Manage Your Information

Update your contact information to ensure you can be reached during emergencies.

View Status

See your invitation status (Pending, Active) and when you accepted the role.

Dashboard Access

Access your Responsibilities dashboard to see all roles you've been assigned.

Important Reminder

As an Emergency Contact, your primary responsibility is to be available and responsive during critical situations. You won't have access to will documents or estate planning information—your role is focused on communication and coordination during emergencies.

4

Access Limitations

To protect the Will Owner's privacy and security, Emergency Contacts have limited access compared to Authorised Representatives:

  1. No Document Access: You cannot view, download, or access any will documents or estate planning files.
  2. No Representative Powers: You cannot make decisions on behalf of the Will Owner or execute their will.
  3. Time-Limited Invitation: Invitations expire after 7 days and must be accepted within this timeframe.
  4. Subscription Limits: The Will Owner's subscription determines how many emergency contacts can be designated (Bronze: 1, Silver/Gold/Platinum: up to 6).
  5. Notification-Only Role: Your role is focused on being reachable during emergencies, not managing estate affairs.
5

Being Prepared for Your Role

Here's how to ensure you're ready to fulfill your responsibilities as an Emergency Contact:

  1. Keep Contact Information Updated: Ensure your phone number, email, and any other contact details are current in your profile.
  2. Be Responsive: Check your emails and phone regularly, especially if you know the Will Owner is in a vulnerable situation.
  3. Understand Your Relationship: Know your designated relationship type (family, friend, etc.) and what's expected in that context.
  4. Know Who to Contact: If contacted about an emergency, know how to reach the Will Owner's Authorised Representatives if needed.
  5. Communicate Availability: If you'll be unavailable for an extended period, inform the Will Owner so they can designate an additional contact if needed.

Critical Responsibility

Your role as an Emergency Contact is critical during urgent situations. Being unreachable or unresponsive could delay important communications about the Will Owner's well-being or estate matters.

6

Your Next Steps

Ready to fulfill your role as an Emergency Contact? Here's what to do:

  1. Check your email for the invitation with your login credentials or magic link
  2. Create your account or log in using the information provided
  3. Navigate to the Responsibilities section in your dashboard
  4. Review your role details and click "Accept Invitation"
  5. If you received a temporary password, change it immediately for security
  6. Update your profile with accurate contact information
  7. Keep your account credentials secure and accessible
Accepting Invitations GuideUnderstanding Your Role
Need help?

If you encounter any issues, we're here to help: