Living wills, wills, powers of attorney, burial instructions.Health insurance policies (at least a list of each type of coverage, the policy number and contact details).

Any personal care plans such as an asthma action plan or food allergy and anaphylaxis care plan 2.

Personal health history that includes medications you’re taking.

People filing a claim for a loss from worthless securities or bad debt deduction should keep their records for seven years. However, the agency advises folks to store relevant paperwork indefinitely if they don’t file a return or if they file a fraudulent return. The IRS website explains that, for many people, it’s enough to keep the past three years’ worth of tax documents.

Receipts, records, and other tax-related forms.

Tax (often for the past three to seven years).

Citizenship documents (green card, naturalization paperwork, etc.).

The specific number increases or decreases a bit, depending on who you ask. Otherwise, the important documents to keep fall into six categories. If you have pets, include their vaccination/medical records, ID chip numbers, and updated pictures. Original documents also help prove your legal status or relationship to another person (adoption papers, child custody papers, etc.). Really, go original with any document verifying your identity (passport, driver’s license, military ID, Social Security card, etc.). Some can be digitized, but retain your original birth certificate or a certified copy.

A list of each type of insurance coverage, the policy number, and contact details.

Military ID and military discharge paperwork.

Marriage, divorce, and child custody papers.

Lists of medications you’re taking, any conditions you have, and medical equipment you use.

The major documents for your family to keep, especially if you are fleeing a disaster, include these: This guide explains which documents to keep and takes you through the various storage options. The best practices mix physical storage (a safe, safe deposit box, etc.), the cloud, and a thumb drive/external hard drive.

Preservation of longtime family documents and photos for future generations.

Electronic storage to cut down on paper.

Easy “grab and go” in a high-risk disaster area.

You know your needs and life circumstances best, so use the “whys” of storage to inform the “how.” Examples of whys could be: Life goes a lot easier if you keep important documents such as your passport, birth certificate, and vaccination records handy, but there isn’t one “right” way to store them. Written By: Max Sheridan | Updated September 28, 2023

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