Sudden disability or death
of the head of a family can leave relatives scrambling
to find vital documents. Trap: If documents are kept in a
safe-deposit box, they may be impossible to obtain when
needed. Safety: Keep vital documents such as a
will, power of attorney and health-care proxy, in a safe
but accessible location, such as your lawyer's office.
Keep copies in your files at home, and include passwords
that might be needed.
Other documents to have ... Contact list: For all professionals
involved with your assets ... attorney, accountant,
insurance agent, broker, banker and so on. List of assets and investment accounts:
Insurance policies, bank and brokerage accounts, etc ...
with account numbers List of outstanding debts and obligations:
Loans, credit card accounts, etc. Titles and deeds: To real estate, vehicles
a burial plot and other properties ... all collected
together at a safe location. Copies of beneficiary designations: For all
IRAs, pension accounts and insurance policies, in case
original at a financial institution are misplaced. Safe-deposit box records: Location and the
keys to it so it can be opened. Useful: If these lists aren't in one
location, keep a master list that tells where they can
be found along with your vital documents.
