Children & Pets Downloads
1. Emergency Information and Instructions
In the event of a sudden illness or emergency of a parent with minor children, instructions should be readily available to allow those you designate to immediately locate and care for all minor children, to call everyone on an emergency contact list, etc.
In the event of a sudden illness or emergency of a parent with minor children, instructions should be readily available to allow those you designate to immediately locate and care for all minor children, to call everyone on an emergency contact list, etc.
It is especially important that single parents specify in writing who they want to care for their children in an emergency and to provide them with written permission to temporarily undertake their care. On this form you will see references to other forms we recommend that you complete. Click on the titles in blue and you will be taken to that form.
It’s important that those giving care to ill or disabled children be able to take a break on a regular basis and these instructions allow them to turn over care to others for a period of time. These instructions are also great for use for babysitters for your children.
If you are the primary caregiver of a disabled or chronically ill child or are a single parent, it is essential that you maintain detailed care instructions for each child in case you are suddenly unable to care for your child or children for some period of time.
Whoever you have designated to care for your children in your absence or illness needs to have the ability to seek medical treatment for your children if necessary while in their care.
There may be times when you want doctors, hospitals, medical personnel, etc. to share information with one or more individuals who aren’t responsible for your child’s medical care. This written authorization is needed for friends, family members, or others to pick up test results for your child, pick up prescriptions or discuss the prescriptions with the pharmacist, get a medical update should your child be in the hospital, etc.
If you want to be able to have access to your adult child's educational records including grades, class schedules, housing, etc. (especially if you are paying for any part of their expenses) you must have their written permission.
For someone other than a custodial parent to take your child out of town (especially on a plane or out of the country) - even another family member - your written permission is required.
It’s especially important if you are the sole “pet parent” to maintain updated information about each of your pets in the event of your sudden death or sudden accident or illness which keeps you from sharing this information with whomever you’ve chosen to care for them when you can’t. This information includes not only diet, medical, and other basic information about your pet(s) but also any behavior or other considerations that may be unique to your pet(s) and affects their well being.
Those you choose to care for your pet(s) in your absence need the owner’s written permission to renew any prescriptions or seek medical treatment.
For others to care for your pet(s), they need to know what and when they eat, their exercise schedule, sleeping arrangements, medication instructions, etc.
Use this form to designate who you want to care for your pet(s) in an emergency or crisis.
The same person that you may want to care for your pet(s) during a short terms emergency or crisis may not be the same person that you would want to care for them for a longer period of time – or who is willing to care for them for a longer period of time. The same person that you may want to care for your pet(s) during a short terms emergency or crisis may not be the same person that you would want to care for them for a longer period of time – or who is willing to care for them for a longer period of time
This is a MUST for all pet owners. Sudden death of a pet owner all too often results in a beloved pet ending up in an animal shelter or even being put to death. Decide who you want to care for your pet(s) after your death, talk to them, get their agreement, fill out this form and then give them a copy.
Although none of the above tools are legal documents, it’s possible that someone may ask you to include a notary with one of the completed forms for their records. Just print out the notary form, attach it to the completed but unsigned Living Smart form and take to a notary for you both to sign.
