Organizing important paperwork is the first step towards getting your affairs in order. I pride myself on being organized, and I want to pass on some of the wisdom I have acquired during my many years of practicing law. It may seem like a daunting task to get your affairs in order and papers organized, but if you follow these simple steps you will find the process can be easy and pain-free. Here are ten steps you may consider for organizing your important papers and make sure everything goes smoothly if something happens to you:
1—Find all of your original estate planning documents (Wills, Powers of Attorney, Living Wills, Trusts, Life Insurance Policies) and make a listing of those documents. On the list make a note of where you keep your originals and where you keep your copies.
2—Make a list of your assets (real estate, investments, bank accounts, investment accounts, long-term care insurance, retirement plans, life insurance, and any high-value personal property, jewelry, artwork, family heirlooms, and automobiles).
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