Each week we painfully witness Mother Nature's ability to interrupt our daily lives. Flooding, Icestorms, Thunderstorms, Tornadoes, Hurricanes. What else am I forgetting? 
If you were incapacitated, would anyone be able to find your important records and take care of your family's financial or business matters? Having important papers organized and accessible in advance can be very important in an emergency or crisis situation. Consider the following for organizing your important records.
Location. Options for storage might include a home safe, fire-security box or off-site location such as a safety deposit box. The storage container should be securable and fire resistant. Shoe boxes or cardboard boxes in the closet or under the bed are not appropriate.
Who knows? Does someone in addition to your partner or family members know where these papers are kept? Consider making a list of such papers and records, and on the list state where these documents can be found. Then advise a trusted third party - an attorney, CPA, relative, or family friend - where this list is kept.
The general idea is that someone not living in your residence knows about this list and how to access it. This decision requires a certain comfort level, and you alone must make that decision based on trust.
Which papers? Regardless of who knows what, organized records are always a plus. The following items might be part of your "important documents" list:
· safety deposit box key
· life insurance policies
· deeds, contracts, leases, titles, mortgage(s), loan notes
· banking, savings, investment and retirement account(s) records
· will
· burial arrangements
· all other insurance policies (health, auto, home, etc.)
· birth certificates
However you decide to store your personal records, and whatever you decide to include, one fact is clear. If important legal, business and personal documents are organized and accessible, the handling of a crisis situation is made much easier.
We sincerely hope that you find these ideas helpful and then ACT ON THEM now. Knowledge is not power. Applying the knowledge and ideas is where the power rest.
Marvin LeBlanc, LUTCF, CNP
For more helpful tips on how you can Lead Smarter, Sell More Effectively or simply Live Life With a Lot more FUN, grab your free subscription to this awesome blog. Over 200 articles available. If you found this article helpful please feel free to share it with your friends, family and co-workers!
