No one expects to be the victim of a disaster, but every year, people find themselves in the midst of fires, floods, earthquakes, and other catastrophic events, with little, if any, time to prepare. And, every year, personal and financial records are lost because they can’t be located quickly in an emergency. That’s why it’s important to take the time to organize your records and essential information so that they’re easily accessible if you are forced to leave your home suddenly.
What To Include
You’ll want to safeguard both personal and financial records.
Personal Records:
- Birth certificates for you and your family
- Adoption papers
- Social Security cards
- Health insurance identification cards
- Marriage certificate, divorce decree, or separation agreement
- Passports
Financial Records:
- Deeds to your home and other property
- Vehicle titles and registrations
- Auto, life, and homeowners insurance policies
- Bank account information
- Investment records
- Wills, trust agreements, and other estate planning documents
- Mortgage and loan agreements
- Credit card information
- Copies of tax returns
You may also want to make a list of the names, addresses, and phone numbers of your financial institution, insurance agent, attorney, doctor, and financial advisor, and keep them with your records.
You’ve Gathered Them — Now What?
Now that you have all your important documents together, you’ll want to keep them that way. A fireproof box that you can take with you during an evacuation is one option. But you also should keep copies of all important documents in a safe place outside your home.
You could rent a safe deposit box and keep copies there. Just be sure that someone who doesn’t live in your home has a key. You may even want to stash some extra cash or a credit card in both places to cover expenses such as food or a hotel room.
Your Life in Words and Pictures
Having a list of what you own can help you with insurance claims or tax deductions in the event of a loss. Take an inventory of your furniture, audio and video equipment, appliances, computer equipment, jewelry, collectibles, and other expensive items. Write down what you paid for the items, and keep the list, along with sales receipts, with your important documents.
Photographing or videotaping your possessions can help you prove what you owned. Include the photos or tape in your fireproof container or safe deposit box.
You can buy computer software programs to help you organize your records. Make sure you print out a hard copy of the information or copy it to a disk and store it with your other important documents.
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