Conquering Paperwork

Many older people hold onto bills, statements, medical forms, insurance policies, property deeds, contracts, credit and other papers they no longer need.

With time and patience you and your parents can organize these papers and decide what must be saved and what can be thrown away.

PERSONAL RECORDS

These records are needed to prove your parents' age, marital status, and citizenship:

• Birth, death and marriage certificates.
• porce judgments.
• Citizenship documents.
• Veteran's records
• Passports

Keep these documents in a safe place at home or in a bank safety deposit box. Make a list of everything in the safety deposit box, where the box and keys are located, and who has access to it.

INSURANCE POLICIES

Store homeowner, health, life, and auto policies in a safe place at home. Throw away out-of-date policies. If your parents change insurance companies, hold on to the policy information for at least a year after it expires in case claims are still being processed.

FINANCIAL RECORDS

• List all bank accounts – savings, checking, certificates of deposit – and the names, phone numbers, and addresses of each bank your parents use.
• Federal, state and local income tax records, receipts and other tax documents can be discarded after three years. Store stock certificates, bonds, and investment records in a safety deposit box or with your parents' broker or agent.
• Encourage your parents to make a list of active credit cards including the account number and contact information for each card in case a card is lost or stolen.
• Titles to cars, trailers, boats and other vehicles are needed to renew licenses. Store these documents in a safe place along with vehicle insurance records and lease agreements. Make sure your parents carry the car registration in the glove box of their car. Never keep the title in the vehicle.

WILLS AND LIVING WILLS

Keep original wills in a safety deposit box or on file with the county probate court. Copies of living wills and durable powers of attorney for health care should be given to your parent's doctor and the person authorized to make medical decisions on behalf of your parents. Ask them if they have made funeral plans or purchased cemetery plots.

Organized paperwork means peace of mind for you and your parents and more time together doing things you all enjoy.