How to create an emergency planning binder in Switzerland
An emergency planning binder, sometimes called a legacy binder, brings together every document that counts when you can no longer decide for yourself: your advance directive, your power of attorney, instructions in case of death, a note on where your will is, and the key practical information for your loved ones. In Switzerland, the concept was shaped by Pro Senectute and its Docupass. You can create your own binder in a few hours: write the documents, sign them in the legally required form, store them where they can be found, and tell your trusted people. This guide walks you through it step by step.
Why you need an emergency planning binder
An accident or illness can happen to anyone. If you lose the capacity to decide and have not put anything in place, your family does not automatically decide for you. Your spouse only has a limited legal right to represent you in everyday matters, and the same applies to registered partners. If you live with a partner without being married, they have no legal right to represent you at all without a power of attorney. Everything beyond that falls to the adult protection authority (KESB). With an emergency planning binder you decide for yourself who acts for you and what happens to you. And you spare your loved ones a painful search for paperwork when it matters most.
The five building blocks that belong inside
A complete emergency planning binder consists of five parts. Two of them are subject to strict formal requirements under the Swiss Civil Code (ZGB).
| Building block | What it covers | Formal requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Advance directive | Your medical treatment if you are unable to decide | In writing, dated, signed by hand. The text itself may be typed. |
| Power of attorney | Who represents you: personal care, financial affairs, legal matters | Entirely handwritten, dated and signed, or publicly notarized (Art. 360 ff. ZGB) |
| Instructions in case of death | Funeral, farewell ceremony, personal wishes | No formal requirements; in writing with date and signature is recommended |
| Will (note only) | Who receives what from your estate | Entirely handwritten, dated, signed, or publicly notarized |
| Practical information | Contacts, insurance, accounts, contracts, digital access | No formal requirements |
The two most important documents are the advance directive and the power of attorney. They are often confused, but they cover different things: one your medical treatment, the other your representation in legal and financial matters. The guide advance directive vs power of attorney: the difference explains the details.
With the power of attorney, form is everything. When the time comes, the adult protection authority (KESB) reviews the document and declares it effective. A single formal error can invalidate the entire document. If you are unsure, a notary or an advice centre can help. The will itself does not belong in the binder, by the way. Keep the original somewhere safe. You can have it officially deposited with the responsible office in your canton for a fee. The binder only needs a note saying where it is.
Step by step to your own emergency planning binder
- Get an overview. Note down what is already in place and what is missing. The emergency binder checklist offers a detailed overview.
- Choose your trusted people. Think about who should represent you, and talk to that person first. If possible, name a substitute in case the first person is unavailable.
- Create your advance directive. Use a proven template, for example from Pro Senectute. Date it and sign it by hand. If you have an existing medical condition, it is worth discussing it with your family doctor.
- Write your power of attorney. Write it entirely by hand, with date and signature. Or have it publicly notarized, especially with larger assets or complicated family situations.
- Record your instructions in case of death. Type of funeral, farewell ceremony, personal wishes: everything that spares your loved ones difficult decisions later.
- Sort out your will. Check whether the statutory order of succession works for you. If not, write a will, ideally with professional help if you have a blended family, own property or run your own business.
- Collect the practical information and file everything. Contacts, insurance, accounts, contracts, digital access. Tell your trusted people where the binder is, and set yourself a fixed date once a year to update it.
Docupass: the classic on paper
The Docupass from Pro Senectute made the emergency planning binder well known in Switzerland. The paper set costs CHF 19 and contains an information booklet, an advance directive, a power of attorney, instructions in case of death, a guide to writing a will, and an emergency card for your wallet. Many Pro Senectute advice centres help you fill it in. Pro Senectute now also offers paid online storage for the documents. For the legal core of your planning, the Docupass is a proven and affordable foundation.
The limit of the paper set is the paper. When your life situation changes, you fill in pages all over again. And the practical information about accounts, contracts and digital access changes faster than a paper binder can keep up with. This is exactly where a digital companion comes in.
Combining paper and digital
The signed originals stay on paper, there is no way around that. For everything around them, a digital solution pays off: the practical information, the overall picture, and the notes on where each original is kept. That is what beizeiten is built for. A guided interview takes you through ten areas of life, from People who matter to Digital life. Unlike online storage in the cloud, all entries stay locally on your device, no server sees your data. At the end you print a dossier for your loved ones and an emergency card for your wallet.
One honest note: beizeiten is not a legal product and does not replace advice from a notary. It helps you keep your binder complete and current, and makes it easy for your loved ones to find what they need. The legally binding documents you still create according to the formal requirements of the Swiss Civil Code.
Store it, tell people, keep it current
The best binder is useless if nobody can find it. So follow three rules:
- Store it where it can be reached: Keep the binder at home in a fixed place, not in a bank safe. In an emergency it must be within reach in hours.
- Tell people: At least two people should know where your binder is. Give the person who will represent you and your doctor's practice a copy of your advance directive.
- A note in your wallet: An emergency card shows first responders that an advance directive exists and who to call.
You will find more information from the federal government and the cantons on advance directives and powers of attorney at ch.ch. And if you take just one step today, make it this one: talk to the people you love about what matters to you. Everything else builds on that.
Quick questions
What does an emergency planning binder cost in Switzerland?
The Docupass from Pro Senectute costs CHF 19. If you write your advance directive and power of attorney by hand yourself, the documents cost nothing. Public notarization by a notary does cost money, and rates differ from canton to canton. The full version of beizeiten is a one-time purchase without a subscription; you will find the current price on the homepage.
At what age should I create an emergency planning binder?
You can create an advance directive as soon as you are capable of judgement, which can be before you turn 18. A power of attorney and a will require you to be of legal age. The binder becomes essential at the latest when others count on you: a partner, children, your own home or your own business. An accident can happen at any age, so do not wait for retirement.
Do I need to have my emergency planning binder notarized?
No, the binder as a whole needs no notarization. Formal requirements only apply to individual documents: the power of attorney must be entirely handwritten or publicly notarized, and the same goes for the will. For the advance directive, a date and a handwritten signature are enough.
What happens without an emergency planning binder?
If you lose the capacity to decide and have not put anything in place, the adult protection authority (KESB) sets up a deputyship if needed. Your relatives cannot then automatically decide for you. If you die without a will, the statutory order of succession under the Swiss Civil Code applies. A binder also spares your family the laborious search for paperwork.