Household Document Retention
What to
keep and what you can trash
Keepers:
Current Active Papers
At
the
beginning of the year, purge your files and start your new year right
by transferring the paper and files from the previous year to a
concluded file or your current/inactive file storage area. Here is a
general list of what will go into your
current file storage area. If you've moved the older files from last
year to the current but inactive area you should be starting out
with a relatively clean or empty set of file folders.
- Receipts
of Expensive Items Not Yet Paid For
- Tax
Receipts
- Unpaid
Bills
- Current Paid Bill
Receipts
- Current
Bank Statements
- Current
Cancelled Checks
- Income Tax
Working Papers
- Employment
Records
- Health
Benefit Information
- Credit Card
Information (folder for each account)
- Insurance
Policies
- Copies of
Wills
- Family
Health Records
- Service
Contracts and
Warranties
- Receipts of
Items Under
Warranty
- Miscellaneous
Receipts
(charitable donations etc)
- Inventory
of Safe Deposit
Box (and key)
- Loan
Statements
- Loan
Payment Books
Keepers:
Inactive But Current Files
- Photocopies
of important documents (master list)
- Appliance
Manuals
- Years' Bank Statements
- 3 Years'
Cancelled Checks
- 3 Years'
Medical Bills and Receipts
- Education
Information
Papers
Over 3 Years Old
1. Retirement
Information
2. Education Information
3. Tax papers and returns
Keepers: Important
Documents
Any documents
that are not easily replaceable should be kept in a
fireproof box or, in your safety deposit box at the bank. Make
photocopies of any documents you may want to have on hand and file the
copies in an appropriate section of your household filing system.
Safe
Deposit Box
1. Birth Certificates
2. Citizenship Papers Passports
3. Marriage Certificates
4. Adoption Papers
5. Divorce Decrees
6. Wills
7. Death Certificates
8. Deeds and Land Titles
9. Titles to Automobiles or other motor vehicles
10. Household Inventory
11. Military Records
12. Bonds and Stock Certificates
13. Legal Contracts
Trash - Any Records
No Longer Needed
1. Salary Statements (after doing taxes)
2. Cancelled Checks for Cash or Nondeductible Expenses
3. Expired Warranties (trash when warranty expires, give to buyer when item is sold if the warranty is transferable or trash upon sale)
4. Insurance Documents (Upon Expiry unless there is an active claim or question about a claim)
5. Coupons After Expiration Date
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