If you were incapacitated, would anyone be able to find and access your important records and take care of your financial or business matters? Having papers accessible and organized is very important in a crisis or emergency situation.
1. Location - You may try a home safe, fire security box, or offsite safe deposit box. The container should be securable and fire .
2. Who knows? - Does someone besides your spouse know where the papers are and how to gain access? A CPA, attorney, relative, or family firend are good people to know this information.
3. Which papers? - These items are usually a part of an 'important documents" list. Safety deposit box key, life insurance policies, deeds, contracts, leases, titles, mortgages, loan notes, banking, savings, investment, and retirement records, will, burial arrangements, all other insurance policies( health, auto, home), birth certificates, passports and copies of passports, copies of driver's license and social security cards.
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Great post. It is so important to know where your important stuff if. We had the fire security box. However, when my husband take out something, he sometimes forget he has to put it back.
We are going through this right now as a family. My step father just passed away and my mother has moderate dementia. Finding things has been a real challenge. Thanks for the post.
My husband laughs at me because I am forever pointing out where I put our documents. I tell him he will be grateful if, God forbid, I leave this earth before he does!
Keeping your important papers and info safe and secure, and accessible to your next of kin is one of the most important things you can do for your loved ones. Thanks for sharing, Kathy
Good reminder. I have the safe and still forget to put valuables in there sometimes.
That is a good post and a nice reminder to all of us. You never know when someone may need to know this stuff so it is good to be prepared.
Nice post. We don't like to think about a time when we might not be able to take care of of own finances, but we should be realistic about it and give some instructions to someone you trust.
Ms Lori.. good info on the secure.. I give a fire safe to my clients at close..for just this
Thanks for the post comment.. best to you
Gary d in Denver