Important Papers You Should Never Purge | Detailed Wife Organized Life

Is it any wonder that we have a problem with paper clutter in our homes? Unless you have really worked hard to filter it down, you probably have paper flowing in from the mail, school, work and a plethora of other places. It can be really tough to filter it all out, but what if you need to find important documents quickly? Do you know what you should keep and where to store it? Will you be able to find it quickly? Will your loved ones? If you don’t know where these items are or you are the only one in your family who does, you could face a real hassle. These are the paper documents you should never purge, the reasons why you should keep them and where to keep them.

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Birth, adoption, death, marriage, and divorce certificates

Why you keep them: Birth and adoption records are one of the most commonly requested forms of identification from employers, the government, and insurance companies. Death, marriage and divorce certificates may also be requested in any number of legal or financial proceedings. However, without raised seals and original signatures, you will quickly find copies unusable. Rarely, will you find companies or government agencies that accept copies. If you have ever tried to replace one of these certificates you know it is usually a big hassle, so be sure to have your originals on hand in a safe place. Here is a great free guide on how to replace these documents.

Where to store them: Store these documents in a safety deposit box or a locked fire resistant safe in your home.

Social Security Card and Passport

Why you keep them: Hopefully it is obvious that you keep your passport as it is a form of identification and the single most important document for traveling in and out of the country. Your social security card is one of your most vital documents needed for employment and government issued ID’s. You will find that only originals are accepted. If you have lost these documents, check out this free guide from the federal government.

Where to keep them: Keep your passport at home in a safe place such as a locked fire resistant safe. Make sure you have a copy when traveling in case you lose it. Keep your social security card in a safety deposit box or fire resistant safe at home.

Wills, Trusts, Powers of Attorney, Life Insurance Policies and Medical Directives

Why you keep them: If you are still under age 40, chances are Wills, Powers of Attorney, Insurance Policies and Medical Directives are not the type of documents that you think about. Whether you have kids or not, these are documents everyone should have in place. I know many people think it is morbid to think about them, but isn’t it better to have your wishes known. This can help your family in any situation that arises due to death, illness, or injury.

I have heard more than one horror story where someone died and the family could not find the will. The more complicated the situation, the more important it is to have these documents organized and easily accessible. Do not fall under the assumption, the lawyer who created it will have a copy of it. Lawyers can be disorganized, retire, move away, go out of business or die. Be sure to get a paper copy and a digital copy of these documents and put them in a safe place. Encourage all your loved ones to do the same.

Where to store them: These items are best stored at home. A locked fire resistant safe is the best place. It is not a bad idea to keep a separate copy elsewhere in case you lose the originals. Do not have too many copies of these documents floating around. You may give a copy to a family member, but be sure it is someone you trust.

Home and Car Titles and Deeds

Why you keep them: It is important to keep originals of all car and home titles and deeds until you no longer own that item. It is extremely difficult to sell any item with a title or deed without that paperwork. There are ways to get the paperwork if you don’t have it, but it is a long and lengthy process. Keep these documents for 7 years after you sell the vehicle or real estate.