No matter where you live, there’s always the threat of a natural disaster. The recent disaster in Japan is a good reminder that knowing where our important papers live is critical to peace of mind. It’s about being able to locate what you need when you need it. No need to panic. Here are some steps to gathering and organizing your Important Documents in a safe place.
First, a list of what you’ll want to place in a container:
- Adoption Papers
- Appraisals
- Back up of your computer documents
- Birth Certificates
- Car Titles
- Citizenship papers
- Custody agreements
- Deeds
- Divorce papers
- Estate planning papers: Wills, financial and healthcare power of attorneys
- List of all bank accounts/numbers
- Military discharge/Military ID
- Passports
- Photo copies of all credit cards and drivers licenses
- Savings bonds and stock certificates
- Tax returns and supporting documentation for at least 3 years
Second, six simple steps to putting it all together:
1. Gather all documents on the list above.
2. Make photo copies of all credit cards, drivers license, insurance card and registration.
3. Back up your most critical documents on your hard drive onto a flash drive.
4. Compile a master list of all bank accounts, including savings and investment (write down institution, account number, customer and service telephone numbers)
5. File in container that has labeled dividers (see right) so you can easily locate what you need
6. Choose a fireproof container with a lock and handle that can be stored somewhere safe in the house and retrieved easily in the event of evacuation.
Print this blog entry so you have a checklist. Since you may not have time to tackle this task all at once, get started by gathering a few items and placing them in a temporary container. Schedule time to complete the task.
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