Are you ready to organize your important documents but unsure what to keep? Here is a helpful checklist of things to include in your filing cabinet.

PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION DOCUMENTS

• social security cards

• birth certificates

• passports

• copies of driver’s licenses or identification cards – I find it helpful to keep these in a file on my computer for easy access.

• marriage certificate

• divorce certificate

• adoption papers

OTHER LEGAL DOCUMENTS TO KEEP

• vehicle registrations

• military ID

• military discharge paperwork (DD 214)

• veteran’s identification card

FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS

• tax returns for the past seven years

• You’ll need to keep receipts for items claimed on your taxes for seven years, along with your return for each year. 

• Other official IRS forms relating to your tax returns – Other forms to keep include W-2 forms, 1099s, Schedule C, tax credit forms, etc.

• Bank and credit card statements – only if self-employed, keep for tax preparation each year.

• Documents for retirement accounts – 401K, IRA, etc.

• documents for investment accounts – stocks, bonds, mutual funds

• documents for student loan accounts – interest statements

DOCUMENTS FOR OTHER ASSETS

• receipts and certificates of authenticity for artwork, jewelry, or other valuable items – these could come in handy if you ever have to make an insurance claim (fire, flood, robbery, etc.)

• warranty documentation and receipts –  items like the refrigerator, lawn mower, toaster oven, etc. 

• vehicle titles

• boat or recreational vehicle titles

• property deeds

• property tax assessment statements

• You could store receipts related to home remodeling or home improvements in a Home Maintenance Binder (look for another blog post about putting one together soon!)

IMPORTANT MEDICAL DOCUMENTS TO KEEP IN YOUR FILES

• health insurance cards and policy statements– note: the entire policy with an explanation of benefits for your health plan is available online.

• vaccination records

• critical medical records from major hospitalizations or surgeries

• medical bills – especially if you claim medical expenses as deductions on your taxes

• documentation relating to disabilities

• a medical power of attorney

• vaccination/medical records for pets

INSURANCE DOCUMENTS

Most insurance companies now email a new electronic policy for each annual renewal. Suppose you receive your handbook in paper format. In that case, it is important to shred any identifying information on the old policy and recycle the rest of the handbook each time a new one arrives to prevent past policies from cluttering filing drawers.

Here are some insurance papers to keep:

• home owner’s insurance policy

• renter’s insurance policy

• car insurance policy

• life insurance policy

• insurance policies for other assets like boats or RV’s

EDUCATION AND WORK-RELATED DOCUMENTS

• military service records

• College transcripts

• high school/college diplomas

• certificates for special work training you’ve completed

• letters or emails with recommendations or appreciation

END-OF-LIFE DOCUMENTS

For your family members and anyone else you have received these records for as part of an estate or ancestry records. Each individual should have their own labeled folder. 

• last will

• living wills

• trust

• powers of attorney

• funeral home contracts

• DNR orders

• death certificates

• documents relating to beneficiaries

• documents relating to cemetery plots

• organ donation directives

Investing time in organizing your important paperwork brings order to your daily life and grants you the peace of mind that crucial documents are easily accessible.