Why identity documents come first
When something unexpected happens, families are often asked for identity and relationship documents before anything else — by hospitals, banks, insurers, employers and government offices. Knowing what exists and where it is kept can save days of searching at a difficult time.
You do not need to gather copies in one place to make progress. A short, accurate list of what you have and roughly where it is kept is already useful.
Documents to list
Not everyone has every item below. List the ones that apply to you and your household.
- Included: Proof of identity you hold, such as an Aadhaar card, PAN card, passport, voter ID or driving licence
- Included: Birth certificates for you, your spouse and your children
- Included: Marriage certificate or registration, if applicable
- Included: Any divorce, separation or adoption papers
- Included: Educational certificates you or your family may need to reference
- Included: Employment records, appointment letters and employee ID details
- Included: Ration card or other household records
- Included: Recent passport-size photographs (families are sometimes asked for these)
How to record them safely
Record the document name, who it belongs to and a storage hint such as “steel cupboard, top shelf, blue folder” or “scanned copy in the family's shared DigiLocker account”. Avoid writing full identity numbers into notes, messages or spreadsheets — your family can read them from the original when needed.
Mark each entry with when you last checked it. Documents expire, addresses change and originals get moved.
- Included: Name of the document
- Included: Whose document it is
- Included: Where the original is kept
- Included: Where any copy is kept
- Included: When you last checked it
Keep it current
Set yourself a gentle reminder to review this list once or twice a year, and whenever there is a major life event such as a marriage, birth, move or new job.