What is the Next of Kin Registry?
How secure is my information?
When will my information be used?
Who does NOKR share information with?
How does NOKR work?
Will my Next Of Kin Registration be my legal Next Of Kin?
What information can I store?
Who can I list as my Next Of Kin or emergency contact?
How do I update my information in the registry?
Can this registry help with the Amber Alert Plan?
What happens if a Next Of Kin can't be located in the event of death?
Who can use this service and are there any limitations?
What is the Optional Registration Card?
What happens if I do not have any identification?
I Don't Own A Computer!!!
What Personal information does NOKR collect?
How could you not be located, why would this happen?
Can anyone access my information?
What else does the "Next Of Kin Registry" do?
Who pays for this service?
Who can advertise on your website?
I don't want my personal information shared on the internet?
How do I remove my registration?
How does NOKR deter misconduct?



What is the Next of Kin Registry?

The Next Of Kin Registry (NOKR) is a FREE high-speed solution to locating your Next Of Kin/Emergency Contact(s) in urgent situations. NOKR is designed as an emergency contact system to help if you or your family member is missing, injured or deceased. NOKR is a free service to the public as well as the Local and State agencies using the search service. There has been no system or service of this kind in place, until now. The luxury of the Internet is the ability to communicate efficiently across the globe at lightning speed, bringing a nation of people together. NOKR is a front-line approach to accelerate this location and notification process.

NOKR is the central depository for Emergency Contact information in the United States.

NOKR is a humanitarian organization. As part of our mission to society NOKR has created a trusted safeguarding system for all personal emergency contacts worldwide. NOKR does not own the information we store, this information belongs to the registrants and is made available securely to registered emergency agencies during times of urgent need.

The NOKR is a non-partisan; non-profit 501(c)(3) humanitarian organization dedicated to bridging rapid emergency contact information. NOKR was established in January 2004 as a public service for daily emergency situations.    

 

How secure is my information?

All registrations are processed and sent via secure socket layer (SSL) to the NOKR registry at a separate secure location.  This secured location is User Name and Password Protected. All data is protected under the watchful eye of NOKR's staff. All Internet Data Centers are strategically located on AT&T's, Global Crossing and Cable & Wireless' OC48 / OC192 Global IP backbones. These locations, together with the extensive public and private peering arrangements, are designed to maximize NOKR's Internet reach, bandwidth capacity and to optimize performance. To ensure all data's security, all facilities are staffed 24 hours a day with on-site guards and equipped with both interior and exterior closed circuit television.

Access to and from the hosting and monitoring areas is controlled via highly secure mantraps. These single entry, hardened portals are extremely effective at limiting access to the facility to authorized personnel only.

The operations of all Internet Data Centers are monitored by regional Network Operations Centers (NOC) with mirrored content displayed in other NOCs for failsafe network system diversity and redundancy. Network security is ensured by state-of-the-art software and hardware for network monitoring and routing, intrusion detection and filtering.

The NOCs are staffed on a 24/7 basis by skilled network technicians and analysts, who continuously monitor the data center network infrastructure for any signs of problems. Automated features as well as customized options help network managers to predict - and often, resolve - problems before they arise.




When will my information be used?

Here are just a few cases where your information will be useful.

1. Missing or injured child, adult or senior

2. Accidents while traveling Nationally or Internationally

3. Unconscious person unable to communicate

4. Natural Disasters (Hurricanes, Earthquakes, Tornados, Floods, Tsunamis and Fires)

5. Terrorist Acts Nationally or Internationally

6. Deceased person used to locate a next of kin or point of contact

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Who Does NOKR share information with?

NOKR is strictly against associating or sharing information for 3rd party distribution or for personal gain. NOKR is a public service tool for both citizens and emergency agencies. NOKR is a facilitating tool for those who cannot directly speak to emergency personnel.  When you store your minimal contact information the only viewer of this information would be that of emergency services.  (PUBLIC>NOKR<agencies)

 

How does NOKR work?

You would visit the registration page or the mail-in / fax form page and register either yourself and an emergency point of contact or you could register a family member and their emergency point of contact. Optionally you could register a friend or significant other as a point of contact. Each registration is date stamped; you may also register yourself multiple times. If you have registered yourself several times, we do store each registration and index all individually by date. This information is kept secured and is sent encrypted to a secure area on a separate server once you press the register button. This information is not accessible to the public and is not located on the same site you register at. The public stores their information in NOKR and agencies can retrieve that information from the NOKR in emergency situations.
(Information stored by public>NOKR SYSTEM<EmergenCy Agencies)

Scenario # 1
With this service a person can register a family member with ease, example scenario:
Your elderly mother lives in Bellingham, WA and your elderly father lives in San Diego. They both live alone. You live in New York and talk with both of them once a month. In the event either of your family members above passes away and no immediate family member can be found, the city or county would step in and act as their public guardian and process their remains and personal effects. Not to sound too harsh, but this is the standard operating procedures. If the Medical Examiner's Investigator is unable to readily find information that leads to the next of kin, the case is turned over to an investigator who uses a wide range of databases (i.e. birth/marriage records, social security records, etc) and Internet search engines. Unfortunately the county, city and state lack unlimited resources to track down a next of kin. So you as a family member could be faced with the belated information that your loved one has passed on and that no one was locatable at the time. Therefore the public agencies followed their procedures and took guardianship of your family member.

Scenario # 2
If you're traveling away from your home and an accident occurs rendering you unable to speak. This registry would help officials to locate a point of contact for you.  The optional registration card would be helpful in this scenario.

Scenario #3
If you have a child that spends time away from home with friends or in activities this is a good service for you. When your child leaves the home to play in your neighborhood, how will you be contacted if your child has an emergency? The optional registration card would be helpful in this scenario.

The above explains a few different types of scenarios. This registry will benefit the young as well as the older person. There are many applications in which this registry will benefit you and your families. Including a recently missing person or injured person.  

With this new system:
Now Agencies can use the NOKR search service to locate your registered point of contact more rapidly, thus bridging the information gap that currently does exist.

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Will my Next Of Kin Registration be my legal next of kin?

The short answer is no.  To appoint a legal next of kin contact a competent attorney in your area.  The  next of kin registry will aid local and state agencies in establishing a point of contact.

 

What information can I store?

You are welcome to store any additional information you would like. When you register with NOKR you will have the option to add more information on the registration page inside the box marked "Additional Information" .

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Who can I list as my next of kin or emergency contact?

You can register anyone as your next of kin or emergency contact; most individuals will list a close family member. Some individuals are estranged from family, so they may list (Other) and indicate a friend, neighbor, Lawyer, Bishop, Priest, Rabbi, Minister, Elder, Deacon, etc., who may in turn give the investigating agency useful information. You can register as many family members or friends as you like, in any order. The idea is this; by linking two people together the investigating agency will have a direct point of contact.

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How do I update my information in the registry?

Once you register at NOKR, your information is stored as a permanent record in the system.  Anytime your information changes like (new address, physical appearances, name change or to add new or multiple contacts) you may come back and reregister your new information, via the registration form. This will create a new record that will parallel the old record on file. Each registration is date stamped. If you have registered yourself several times, we do store each registration and index all individually by date.



Can this registry help with the Amber Alert Plan?

The Amber Alert is a critical missing child response program that utilizes the resources of law enforcement. The information contained in this registry could help officials identify the child in question rapidly if a photo or other vital information was available.  For more information about the amber alert visit https://www.amberalert.gov.  



What happens if a Next Of Kin can't be located in the event of death?

In the event the next of kin is not immediately available to secure a decedent's residence and personal possessions, the Public Administrator or Law Enforcement may be called to secure the residence and the contents therein. This is done to protect the interest of the decedent and the next of kin.  If the next of kin were available to take possession of the decedent's residence and its contents these agencies would not be called. You may or may not have a public administrator in your area. This depends on your county and/or city's needs. This process above may be performed by the law enforcement agency in the decedents area, if there is no public administrator.

Each time you leave your home you lose direct contact with your family and friends. If you are incapacitated who will speak for you? How will anyone know how to locate your next of kin or emergency point of contact? If you’re missing, critically injured or deceased the Next Of Kin Registry will speak for you.

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What is the Optional Registration Card?

The optional registration card> is an immediate on hand resource of information that indicates your next of kin is registered with the national registry. This card is not a requirement. If you choose to use this card you must register your next of kin in the national registry for the card to function properly.  This card is beneficial if you travel locally or overseas, if you live alone or for your children to keep on their person. Optionally, you can print a card and then mail it to the person or persons you have registered. We recommend that you laminate your card for long-term protection. Also see the NOKR medical card>.



Keep this card in your wallet, purse or even post it to an area of the home, such as your refrigerator, for quick open access. If your next of kin is needed for an emergency situation, this card will identify you as being a registered person to the responding agency.

What happens if I do not have any identification?

During the ROTA campaign NOKR will provide the option of archiving/storing your fingerprint.  This will be stored along with a photograph and your next of kin/emergency point of contact information.  This information will be stored confidentially in the registry and only viewable in the event you are missing, injured or deceased.  Your fingerprint will offer a more definitive match as to your identity, if you have no identification.   

Who can use this service and are there any limitations?

There are no limitations. This service is dedicated to helping individuals with the notification process Internationally. This service can be used for example to register a child, teenager, older individuals living alone, homeless, travelers, etc. This service is for anyone that would like to stay connected.  In the event of a natural, man-made disaster or even a terrorist act this registry has a true value to help locate an individuals Next Of Kin or emergency point of contact.  By officials using the current search feature and running an address only, name or a combination of the both.


I Don't Own A Computer!!!

For those interested in the notification concept, and don't have a computer to assist them with the informational input. Most all local libraries and/or friends could help in this area. Tell a Friend / Neighbor. Optionally we do have the mail in or fax registration form.

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What personal information does NOKR collect?

For the individual you are registering we only ask for their name, address, city, postal code, state and country. Optionally, you can add their telephone number, date of birth/age, drivers license / state identification number or upload an optional photo. For the Next Of Kin, we only collect name, address, city, state and country. Optionally you can add a telephone number and email address.  The optional items are just that, optional. If you choose to fill them in, this would be helpful to Local and State Agencies who are attempting to make a unique match. Age is only used as a chronological identifier and the zip code narrows down your demographic in the event that someone does list a Post Office Box as his or her physical address. The optional drivers license / state identification number helps to quickly match an individual that has a common name or variations of the first name. See the following examples: (John Smith, Cary Jones or Keri, Kerri, Cary Carrie or Jon, John, Johnny).


How could you not be located, why would this happen?

Most individuals believe if they have a driver's license or credit cards on their person, that if in fact something were to happen to them a next of kin could be found.  These forms of Identification only tell an investigator about you not who should be contacted or where to find an emergency contact.  This problem becomes even more complex if the information on your current identification is not current.  Archiving your next of kin/emergency point of contact information in the NOKR system along with the optional registration card will help to expedite the location of your loved ones.

A family member of our "NOKR" developer was a resident of a convalescent care facility in 1990. He visited her monthly as often as he could visit her, since he was active in the US Marines. His other family members were living overseas at the time. He had been visiting the convalescent facility for over four years, having a strong connection with the staff, caring for his family member. They had been informed several times over the years that if she needed anything or if she were to pass on, he wanted to be notified immediately. Around early May 1990, she passed on. Due to poor record keeping, the staff did not inform him as the next of kin. Since no immediate family member was available, the coroner turned her case over to the public administrator; who took guardianship of his loved one. The grief he had and the frustration at this process has brought about this (Next Of Kin Registry) that is in place today.

We understand the role of the Medical Examiners-Coroners Office, as our developer has worked in and with this office in the past. He understands what takes place when a family member cannot be located or notified. It is truly the desire of most public agencies to resolve a decedent’s case and bring closure to a family. This is not in many cases an option as public officials are often limited by a lack of information in this search.

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Can anyone access my information?

NOKR is an emergency resource system that only provides access to registered emergency agencies. (Police, Sheriff, Medical Examiner, Coroner, County or State Public Guardian Agencies or). Only Local and State agencies working to locate your emergency point of contact due to urgent need have access to NOKR.  Some exceptions may be made in cases where a different agency would be responsible for next of kin notification (ie; a Fire Department or Hospital). In these cases, access would be granted only after a majority vote of the Officers of NOKR.

What else does the "Next Of Kin Registry (NOKR)" do?

The NOKR organization was established to educate and assist the public in storing of basic emergency contact information. This information is stored securely for any daily emergency or disaster situations in which you or your family member is unable to speak.


Who pays for this service?

NOKR is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) Public Benefit Organization. NOKR will never solicit you or anyone registered.

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Who can advertise on your website?

We do not accept any type of advertisements or banners.


I don't want my personal information shared on the internet?

The Next Of Kin Registry (NOKR) does not share your information openly as your information does not belong to NOKR. Your information belongs to you. NOKR as a nonprofit entity has facilitated a safe secure archiving resources so that you the public can store rapid contact information at no cost as a way to prepare for the unforeseen. NOKR will not provide your personal information for the general population to view or purchase, your information is for emergency use only.

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How do I remove my registration?
To remove your record from the registry please send the following information. The name of the individual registered, the emergency contact associated with this individual, the city and state for both persons. Your letter must also include the date your registration was sent; this is a security factor for permanent removal.

Please send this remove request via letter to:
Next Of Kin Registry
Attention: NOKR Removal
PO Box 1002
Bonita, CA 91908

Or email this information above to remove@pleasenotifyme.org


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How does NOKR deter misconduct?

The Next Of Kin Registry (NOKR) has put in place several overt and covert security features, In order to prevent unlawful actions. Once you are contacted by a State or Local Agency, you may need to show definitive proof to this agency, that you are in fact the next of kin or emergency contact for the person in question. If you have further questions regarding this type of proof, you may consider consulting a competent attorney or your Local, City or State Law Enforcement Agency.