Your estate documents are important papers and should be kept in a safe place. Most people usually keep important papers with their lawyers, but there are various other options you can choose from. You might think your documents are safe at home until, one day, a natural weather disaster wipes out everything. This is why you should be proactive.
If such a thing happens, you will be left with shock and confusion, unaware of what to do next. While you can create these documents again, it usually takes a lot of time. One cannot predict when disaster may strike, but you can certainly take precautionary measures. To know more about protecting your property, consult with a Mullica NJ estate planning lawyer today.
Safe places to keep your original estate planning documents
- A disaster-proof safe at home.
Your home is the safest place for your documents. You can access the papers anytime you need them without calling another person or organization. A fire-proof and flood-proof safe that remains inside your house is an easy and simple way to protect your documents. They are also more inexpensive and safer than your usual wardrobe.
Make sure the safe is difficult to move and is kept in a private area in your house. The area should not be easily accessible, and the combination should be shared with very limited and trusted people only.
- At your lawyer’s.
Keeping your estate documents with your lawyer is a smart strategy as they are the ones to handle all the estate-related issues. Your family should know who your lawyer is and where their office is so they can meet with them when you are not available. The key is to choose a good and competent lawyer.
One quality about a good lawyer is that they know what the good spots to store important documents are. They are aware of the risks and can take preventative steps when needed.
- Safe deposit box at a bank.
Safe deposit boxes are fire-proof and flood-proof and can be found at any bank. They are a safe way to protect your documents and can be easily rented. However, one downside of such boxes is that they can be challenging to access, even when you need them immediately. Only a very limited number of people have access to it. Your bank may even restrict access to you only.
If you are anxious about the safety of your estate documents, you are not alone. But there are plenty of options you can choose from. The best way to ensure your documents remain safe is by consulting with an attorney in Mullica, NJ.
