It is hard to know what documents to trash and when. Before you know it, your spare room, office, basement, or garage is overflowing with boxes of papers that all seem important. Trying to weed through the mess and figure out what to toss? Keep reading.
Which Documents Should I Keep?
There are some documents that you will want to hang on to forever and some that you should keep for a few years. Consider the following examples:
Documents You Should Always Have
These following documents should always be available, and you should properly store them to ensure you can grab them when you need them:
Birth certificates
Death certificates
Marriage license
Social Security card (Lost yours? Now you can request a replacement online.)
Your current insurance policies (life, health, etc.)
The newest version of your estate planning documents
Documents You Should Only Keep Temporarily
Some documents lose importance as time goes by. However, it would help if you hung on to the following documents for a few years (typically, between five and seven years):
Papers related to charitable donations
Tax returns
Credit card statements
Cancelled checks
Bank statements
Why Is It Important to Keep Some Documents?
Should you pass away, it is crucial to have kept certain documents because the probate court may request them after your death. Maintaining important documents will help your family close your estate.
Other reasons to hold on to paperwork depend on your situation. For example, some people find themselves a party to a lawsuit. If that happens to you, you may need to produce documents, and it will be much easier if you can readily access the important ones.
Digital Storage
Digitally storing your documents can significantly cut down on the clutter. Before you start digitizing your essential documents, you want to have a plan. Sit down, look at all your documents, and determine whether they are necessary. Use a critical eye as you decide what to keep. The next step is scanning each document into your computer, on to an external hard drive, or on a flash drive.
Some important considerations when digitizing your files include keeping up to date with current technology and password-protecting your sensitive information. As technology advances, make sure that you advance with it. The last thing you want is to be unable to open your files. Always encrypt or password-protect your information. It is the best way to protect yourself against hackers and identity thieves.