Guidelines for a Filing System

When organizing your household papers, it's hard to know which papers need to be kept on hand and which can be stored in a safe-deposit box. Here are some simple guidelines:

What to File at Home...
  • Banking--check registers, extra checks, passbooks, canceled checks

  • Car titles, insurance policies, maintenance records, payment stubs

  • List of all credit cards with numbers and telephone numbers; credit card statements

  • Guarantees and warranties, including instruction pamphlets

  • House records -- insurance policy and mortgage papers; list of home improvements and receipts; lease and renter's insurance policy, if renting

  • Investment records -- 401(k), mutual fund, and broker statements

  • Medical records -- immunizations, insurance forms, insurance payments, prescriptions

  • Life insurance policies

  • Tax records --c opies of tax records for previous years and receipts for deductible expenses you plan to claim in next year's return

  • Copy of will (keep another copy at your attorney's office)
What to Store in a Safe-Deposit Box...
  • Personal papers, including birth certificates, marriage license, passports, military service records, divorce decrees

  • House deed and title

  • Financial holdings, including savings bonds, bank certificates of deposit, stock certificates

  • List of valuables (include room-by-room videotape of home, if possible)
Once you have a system in place for organizing your papers, your household will run much more efficiently. In addition, you will be better prepared to deal with the inevitable emergencies that pop up.