Reply to Storing important papers

Forum Index » Off-Topic

Reply to "Storing important papers"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Thanks for these ideas everyone. We have a small home with minimal closet space  and dread the idea of having a safe.  It sounds like it might be the best option though.

Also, I did not realize that bank safe deposit boxes aren’t considered safe! [/quote]

They also make "fireproof" bags that are less than an inch thick.

For most people, I don't see how this is worth much time and expense. I can't think of any ID and financial documents that are not replaceable. [/quote]

If I lost my driver's license, passport, and birth certificate, I don't know how I would prove who I am. I do have fingerprints on file. [/quote]

This essentially happened to my mother. She lost her passport, and when she went to get a new one, discovered there was a clerical error on her drivers license (had her first and middle name reversed) that no one had noticed. She was in her 60s and her birth certificate and social security card had been lost to the ages. She literally did not have a single piece of ID with her correct name.

It worked out. She had to go to the hospital where she was born to dig up old records. I forget how they allowed her to prove herself. I think she may have needed like affidavits signed from a few people who knew her. Perhaps her minister? And her employer? So she got a copy of her birth certificate. That was the hardest part, if I recall correctly. Then, she got a copy of her marriage license (that was easy, church had it on file I think) since she had changed her name, and then could use those to get a new social security card and then she was able to get the drivers license fixed, and then the passport.

Yes, it was a PITA, but it was very doable. And remember that 1) usually your drivers license is in a different spot than your other stuff (wallet vs files) which minimizes risk, and 2) ordering a new drivers license if yours is lost is actually super easy. They’ll just send you a new one in the mail as long as your address is accurate. It has a picture and it’s all on file at the DMV. Once you’ve got a copy of your drivers license everything else becomes easy. This isn't a really problem. The real lesson is just to make sure your drivers license is accurate and you keep the address on it up to date. [/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics