25 Important Documents to Keep in a Safe Location

When TSHTF or even a minor disaster occurs, you will usually need to provide a variety of documents before receiving help from FEMA, your insurance company, the Red Cross, or other agencies providing assistance. Even if you don't deal with these agencies, it is a good idea to keep the following documents safe but easily accessible:

1. Birth Certificates for all family members
2. Marriage/divorce certificates
3. Adoption Paperwork
4. Wills for each Adult
5. Living Will/Financial Power of Attorney/Medical Power of Attorney for each Adult
6. List of all financial accounts (Bank, Savings, Investment, etc)
7. Personal Information file for each family member (social security number, birth date, diplomas, etc.)
8. Real Estate Deeds/mortgages
9. Car titles
10. Tax records
11. Insurance policies
12. Passport for each family member
13. Debt/credit account information
14. Original social security cards
15. Medical history/allergies/medications/doctor’s info for each family member
16. DD214/military paperwork
17. Citizenship documents
18. Business documents (incorporation papers, business licenses, etc)
19. Credit reports
20. Stock/bond certificates
21. A complete home inventory
22. Historical family items (photos, genealogy records, etc)
23. Receipts for major purchases
24. All computer files backed up on a jump drive
25. Any other document that would be difficult or impossible to replace (foreign birth certificates, employment documents, etc)

If you are taking care of your parents, you may want to have them fill out this document (http://www-tc.pbs.org/wgbh/caringforyourparents/handbook/pdf/cfyp_imp_doc.pdf ) so you will know where to find their important documents.