Hey thanks, everyone, for hanging in here with me this week. I know it hasn't been the most uplifting topic to share, but I've gotten some really kind texts and emails from you letting me know that it's pushing you to think. And lest I misrepresent our own household, I wanted to let you know these are things we are still working on too - as we learn more about what we need!
I especially want to encourage those of you who are not married or don't have kids to not overlook this. I feel like having children or getting old are the two reasons people pay attention to things like this. But it matters for all of us!
Today I want to talk about documents, and again, I want to urge you to have these things at the ready in case of a natural disaster. If you have to hurry out ahead of a fire, tornado, or flood, these are the things you need to be able to take with you. Sure, some of them can be replaced, but the process of doing so can take f.o.r.e.v.e.r.
* Copies of your driver's license or legal ID. Of course most people carry the original on them, but it can be helpful to have copies of it for the people who handle your affairs after your death. Some of the information on it will make their lives much easier as they try to answer questions.
* Original Social Security card. Keep track of these for your children until they are legal adults! Getting a new social security card can be a real nightmare. It only took me three months to become a legal Shaffer. By the way - having your SSN is going to be necessary for anyone handling your information after your death.
* Military records. I confess that I don't have a lot of experience with what all this would entail, but I know it's important. If you are in the military, I'm sure you know what you need - so make sure you have that!
* Marriage licenses/divorce papers. Copies are helpful for information's sake, but originals are extremely important. (Not having a true original of our marriage license may or may not have been part of the reason it took me three months to become a legal Shaffer.) If you have ever been divorced, you should also keep copies of your paperwork from that, just in case there are ever any questions.
* Adoption/Foster care records. It can be a mountain, for sure. But these documents are extremely vital for your children to have as they move forward in their lives, so make sure you keep good track of it all.
* Immigration/Citizenship records. This many not apply to everyone, but if it does apply to anyone in your family, including any children you've adopted internationally, make sure you have all the records!
* Birth certificates. You'll want originals and copies for everyone in your household. (Hang onto these for your children, too!)
* Death certificates. Again - originals and copies are good to have on hand. Even though Ryan's mom died two years ago, he's needed originals of her death certificate to complete some of the matters following Allen's death. Funeral homes can get you as many originals as you need...for a small fee, of course.
* Passports. Not everyone has one, but if anyone in your house does, make sure it's kept in a safe place with everything else!
* Car Titles/Home and Land Deeds. I know many people may not have these items paid off, but if you do, make sure you hang onto these documents to show what you own free and clear! (This is also something your loved ones will need access to if they plan to sell any of it following your death.)
* Will. It's really important to have a legal will. I know most probably don't want to spend money on this, but it's important to have. Wills can be fairly generic, or they can be very specific. But they are definitely important. Our advice (which we are in the process of taking) is to find a good attorney and draw up a will if you haven't already done so. And if you haven't updated your will in forever, it's a really good idea to do that. If you now have sons and daughters-in-law and grandchildren, or if someone has passed away who was previously listed in the will, you should update your will to reflect that. Attorneys keep this on file, but having a copy is a good idea.
* Documents regarding power of attorney, guardianship, and final wishes. You can declare someone your power of attorney to make decisions for you (or pay bills for you) in the event that you become unable to do this for yourself. You can (and should!) declare someone a legal guardian for your children in case anything happens to you. If you are named a guardian for someone else's child, you'll want to make sure you have all that documentation at hand. And you should make sure your final medical wishes are known, too. Your wishes for life support and organ donation are important to indicate to those who need to speak on your behalf.
* Other medical information. And speaking of medical information, it's also a good idea to have a list of important items someone (including you!) might need to know: medical history, information about medical conditions, immunization records, prescription lists, etc.
2 comments:
I think I'm going to make getting this binder together my summer project. Well, that and updating our will. You are so right in that there is so much to think about.
After watching my brother and his family escape the fire in Fort McMurray in 2016, some people (not them thankfully) had five minutes to grab what was important from their home before it was consumed by fire. Five minutes. How do you even choose...
Having a binder filled with all the information you've been talking about this week would help ensure you don't miss some of the really important things.
Such informative posts this week!
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