Prevent Document Demise

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Develop a system that helps you find important documents when you need them — and let your spouse or significant other in on that system.

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Safety deposit box: This is where you should store important papers that would be difficult to replace but that you rarely need to access.

Titles
Deeds
Birth, marriage and death certificates
Passports
Power of attorney papers
Contracts
Leases

Fireproof box in your home: This is the best place for storing important documents that you need ready access to:

Insurance policies
Warranties
Wills (give copies to relatives and your lawyer)
Bank records
Financial statements
Pay stubs
Stock and bond certificates
Receipts for major expenditures
Social Security information
Tax records
Pensions
IRAs
Retirement plans

Master file: You should have one file that lists all-important documents and where to find them. This is not only helpful for those with poor memories but to protect your spouse and family in case something happens to you. In the master file keep:

Photocopies of important IDs, such as driver's licenses.
Information on how to replace vital records in an emergency.
List of safe deposit box items.
List of credit card accounts and numbers.
Frequent flyer information
List of bank accounts and numbers
Social security numbers for each member of the family

About Tara Aronson

Tara Aronson is author of Housekeeping With Kids. Her San Francisco Chronicle column entitled "Coming Clean" — focusing on household cleaning and maintenance — reaches 1.5 million readers. Aronson is an expert in home cleaning and organizing. Her advice has appeared in numerous national and regional publications, including Ladies' Home Journal, The Washington Post and Woman's World.

Aronson is fast becoming a familiar face on national television (Living It Up with Ali & Jack, Soap Talk, The Other Half, CNNfn, etc.) and is also a much sought-after lifestyle expert for local television news and radio programs nationwide.