Here’s a piece of advice you’ll be tempted to ignore… until you really need it. But remember that an ounce of prevention is worth, well, at least 6 pounds of cure in this case. Imagine how thankful you and your loved ones will be if you ever need one of the binders suggested by professional organizer Meredith Gordon.
Create two Vital Records binders…invaluable for both home reference or in the event of theft, severe illness or other emergency. Make a copy of all vital documents and information (safe deposit box location/key holder, birth certificate, marriage license, divorce decree, will/medical directive, passport, stock certificates, home/business inventory, statement for each account/insurance policy, social security number, passwords, contents of wallet, family history, etc). Put each document copy in a separate plastic sleeve in a 3-ring binder. Keep the binder of copies in your house in a locked or hidden place. Tell two trusted people where to find it. Put each original document in a separate plastic sleeve in a second 3-ring binder. Keep the binder of originals in your safe deposit box.
- Meredith Gordon of Gordon Organizing
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Another option is to scan the documents and create a CD which you can store in a safe deposit box.
Last year I published a book called “already organized!” to store this vital information. There are 8 chapters listing all the information you need access to. It provides a central place to list where you store each of the documents and has been of special interest to adult children of aging parents. They like the fact that they don’t have to think up what information to look for. The documents are all listed and you fill in locations and critical dates and numbers!