Where are all your parents’ important, irreplaceable papers?  Can you answer that question honestly?  Can they?  “I think they are in the safety deposit box.”  But, are you sure?

I am referring to birth & death certificates, deeds, marriage certificates, social security cards, honorable discharge, citizenship papers, life insurance policies, stock certificates, bonds, originals of will, Power of Attorney, etc.  Those papers it would be difficult to replace.   Are they scattered about in many places or consolidated in one?  Why wait until an emergency demands them to start the search.

If scattered, I recommend you bring them all together.  This will also reveal any that are missing that should be replaced.  Some times this can take a long time to accomplish.  Start now while there is no hurry.

And, just how safe are they?  If located in a safety deposit box, ask to have your name and other siblings added to access in case of emergency or death.  If kept at home I strongly recommend the purchase of a fireproof lock box.  Not a huge safe put a box small enough to hold the paperwork and be handled with ease by your parents.  We call this simply “the box”.

IMPORTANT:  If this box is kept at home hide it in an inconspicuous place.  This is NOT the master bedroom, the first place burglars look.

Finally, do you and your siblings have copies of the important documents?  If not, get them and secure them as well.