How do I prepare for disaster?

What do I need? Copies of:

Health: health records including immunizations, procedures, doctor contact information, list of all current medications, advanced medical care directive (living will), & health care proxy information

Insurance: life, health, auto, home/renters & umbrella policies

Legal: titles, deeds, registrations, estate-planning documents, birth, adoption, marriage and death certificates, any other notarized papers or documents, & court papers

Financial: income-tax returns, bank statements, mortgage & loan information, credit card statements, investment records, & social security records

Contact information: banks & other financial institutions, employers, insurance agents, power, light, gas and other utility companies, relatives, close friends and other emergency contacts

Personal: driver’s licenses, photos & memorabilia

Sure enough, no matter how prepared you believe you are for a disaster, you may still have to reconstruct all or part of your financial records. While this may be a time consuming challenge, it can be done.

Where would you start? The friendly IRS. A copy of your tax return may supply you with a great deal of data on bank & investment accounts, employment details, or property you own. Contacting financial institutions with whom you have loans or the appropriate agencies to get copies of marriage or birth certificates, social security cards, & driver’s licenses will move the process forward as well.