Vital Documents: What You Need & Where to Store Them
Contributed by Grady Hansen - State Farm Agent
If you needed the deed to your home, title to your car or your passport, could you locate them quickly? We all know it’s important to organize personal documents. Knowing where certain documents are can be crucial in the event of a family emergency or natural disaster. Equally important is where these documents are stored. Some documents can be kept at home, others in a safe-deposit box at your local bank or in a fireproof box at home if a safe-deposit box is unavailable. It is very important that other family members or a person you trust knows where to find your important documents.
Examples of documents you might need, but that should NOT be kept at home include:
- Deed, title and closing papers for your properties
- Marriage License or Divorce Decree
- Birth Certificates
- Adoption Papers
- Military Records
- Social Security Cards
- Citizenship Papers
- Stock Certificates
- Car Titles
- Insurance Policies
- Home Inventory List
The following documents should be kept at home, perhaps in a fireproof box:
- Tax Returns for the last 7 Years
- Wills (Never store in a safe-deposit box at the bank; it may be impossible to get to in the event of your death)
- Documents regarding your child’s legal guardian
- Copy of durable power of attorney, medical directives, funeral & burial instructions
- Location and key to safe-deposit box
- List of financial institutions and products
- List of doctors and contact information
Make a list of all of your important documents and where they are stored. Keep a copy close at hand and give another copy to a trusted family member, friend or advisor. Be prepared, should you have to evacuate, to grab the fireproof box or other container where your documents are stored. Doing so may provide some peace of mind if you need these documents in the event of an emergency.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact:
Grady Hansen -State Farm Agent
(480) 883-6666
Grady@GradyHansen.com
Grady - This is such valuable information, often times ignored. I can not tell a lie, I would be in a panic if some unexpected happened and I had to gather all my personal files that are scattered. Thank you for the reminder!