Estate planning is crucial in managing your assets and ensuring your final wishes are honored. Legal guidance helps you create a plan that meets your financial needs and protects your family, but you also have a role in securing your final wishes.
Once you have created an estate plan, you must ensure it remains secure and safe from threats. Here are three simple but effective ways to protect and store your estate documents.
Secure home storage
A waterproof and fireproof safe at home is a popular storage method. It provides security and accessibility, allowing you and your executor or family to access these critical documents swiftly.
Remember to give your executor or a trusted family member access to the safe (and your documents) in an emergency.
Safety deposit box
A safe deposit box at your local bank offers another secure option. It can allow you to store original versions of vital documents like wills, trusts, and powers of attorney safely.
Remember, access to these boxes is limited to bank hours, so keep copies of these documents in a secure location at home for quick reference.
Digital storage options
In today’s digital age, storing copies of your estate planning documents online is a viable option. Use encrypted digital services to protect your documents from cyber threats while allowing access to designated individuals.
Ensure your executor can access these documents and understands the importance of keeping them confidential.
Protecting your estate planning documents is as vital as creating them. If none of these storage methods meets your needs, speak with an estate planning representative about other options.
Many law firms offer onsite secure storage. An added benefit of this is your documents will be easily accessible when it is time to review or update your estate plan. Contact us online or call today for a free consultation with Pennington Law, PLLC.