Family Continuity Plan – How to Create One in 5 Minutes

A Family Continuity Plan (FCP) is what I call the set of instructions my family would need if I were suddenly gone. 

I used to travel a lot, and even when at home, I was often riding a motorcycle or bicycle to the office. It didn’t take a genius to realize I should probably leave some instructions in case shit happened. 

But here’s the thing, creating an FCP takes time. And most of us put it off because it feels overwhelming. That’s why I recommend an incremental approach: spend 5 minutes today creating the basic version. You can always expand it later. 

To be clear, this isn’t a legal guide. It’s just what I do, based on personal experience. 

Step 1: What to Cover in Your First Version 

• Who should have access to this info? 
• Where are your key documents? (IDs, birth certificate, passport, marriage license, both hard copies and digital scans).
• How can they access your online accounts? (Passwords, password manager, or a secure note, don’t forget to explain how to access them!) 
• Where’s your will or any legal papers? 
• Any other surprises? (Unofficial accounts, debts, assets they might not know about, etc…).
• Who can help them? (A trusted friend, lawyer, or financial advisor who knows what’s what).

That’s it. Basic version done. Use this free template:

Step 2: Where to Store This Information 

Once you have the basics written down, the next question is: where do you put it? 

Some options: 

• A piece of paper in a safe place. 
• A digital document with encryption. 
• A private video recording. 
• With a notary or trusted third party 
• A Digital Legacy Service that ensures your information is passed on when needed. 
• A mix of the above. 

Just don’t overcomplicate it; the goal is accessibility without compromising security. 

Step 3: How to Let People Know 

Having a plan is great. But if no one knows about it, it’s useless. 

Pick an approach that works for you: 

• Tell them in person. 
• Send them a discreet message. (WhatsApp, Signal, email—something subtle.) 
• Let a notary handle it. 
• Use a secure Digital Legacy Service that automates the process. 

Start Small, Expand Later 

I know some of these steps take more than 5 minutes, but that’s not the point. 

Start right now: write a short note in your cloud storage (encrypt it if you want) or scribble the basics on paper and tell someone where it is. 

Then, when you have time, build on it. Maybe set reminders to check in every few months. 

If you never get around to it, at least you’ll have something in place. And something is always better than nothing. 

What I Personally Do 

I have a ton of digital information, some of it extremely sensitive. My family? Not tech-savvy at all. 

So I use a Digital Legacy Service that: 

• I control myself 
• No one can access unless necessary 
• Includes documents & video instructions 
• Doesn’t require my family to remember passwords 

That’s why I eat my own dog food: I use Secrets Vault because it gives me peace of mind. You can start with a free license that covers all your essential needs, and your recipients can access your plan using the same free license when the time comes. 

Want to Expand Your Plan? Here’s What’s Next 

If you want to go beyond the basics, wait for the new coming posts. 

Why These Topics Matter 

1. Personal documents: Makes life easier for your family when dealing with legal/admin stuff. 
2. Passwords: They’ll need access to banks, subscriptions, social media (to cancel accounts or retrieve assets). 
3. Wills & deeds: Obvious. 
4. Other financial info: If it’s important, they should know. 
5. A key contact: Having someone to help navigate this is invaluable. 

About Me 

I’m Gerard Cervelló, father of two daughters, husband, and owner of two cats who ignore me. 

I spent 15 years managing elections worldwide, where Disaster Recovery Plans were a must. If something failed, Election Day couldn’t be postponed. That mindset led me to apply the same logic to my family: 

• Keep it simple. 
• Make it easy to access. 
• Keep it private from external eyes and hackers. 

Using my experience in cybersecurity, I co-founded Secrets Vault, a tool that lets people securely store and share sensitive information in a way that’s simple, safe, and easy to retrieve when needed. 

Final Thoughts 

If you made it this far, you’re probably thinking: “I really should do this.” 

So do it. Right now. It’ll take 5 minutes, and you’ll feel so much better knowing your loved ones won’t be left scrambling. 

And if you want to take it further? I’ve already done the work, you can steal my setup and tweak it for your needs. 

Whatever you do, just start!