The handover guide

Help someone take over the things you usually handle.

A household handover plan explains what needs attention, where to find the details and who to contact. It can help when you are travelling, unwell or unexpectedly unavailable.

Write for the person who will use it

Choose a responsibility that depends on you. Imagine your backup person opening that record tomorrow. They should be able to find the first action without knowing your usual routine.

1. Explain what needs doing first. Put the urgent or time-sensitive action before background information.
2. Include the useful contact and reference. Say which institution or person to contact and where the account or policy reference is recorded.
3. Point to the supporting document. Connect a file or give a clear location for the original.
4. Name the backup person. Confirm they are willing to help and know where to find the instructions.
5. Review access together. Recording someone as a contact does not automatically invite them to a shared household. Check the appropriate invitation and permissions separately.

An example of a useful instruction

“If I’m away when the utility bill arrives, check the Electricity & water record for the account reference and payment day. The latest statement is in the blue household folder. Contact the provider using the number recorded there if the amount looks unusual.”

Make the plan easy to maintain

Walk through the instructions together. If your backup person cannot locate a document or needs to ask what a reference means, update the record. Revisit it when responsibilities change hands or a provider’s contact details change.

In NoteAway, handover instructions sit with the responsibility’s manager, backup person, provider details and connected documents. The preparation plan highlights missing details so you can improve one record at a time.

Related: household responsibility list and important document organisation.