[StBernard] Marvin LeBlanc's Monthly Message

[Westley Annis]

  MARVIN LEBLANC'S MONTHLY MESSAGE

 
Dear Westley,


Are Your Records Organized for an Emergency?

By  :  Marvin LeBlanc, LUTCF, CNP
www.MarvinLeBlanc.com <http://www.MarvinLeBlanc.com>   (504) 731-6767

         State FarmR agent



Last week, again, we experienced Mother Nature's ability to interrupt our
daily lives as she brought Ida to visit the Gulf Coast.

 

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 spouse 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 are able to make that determination.

 

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

                                          

Beyond 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.

Thank you for your time.

Marvin LeBlanc, LUTCF, CNP