What goes in my Important Papers go-bag?

August 19, 2023 7:29 AM

I want to get my important papers in order. I'm thinking I should have the most important in one spot, in a container that I can grab as I'm running out the door. What is that container, and what goes in it?

Currently they're in a filing cabinet, but the essentials (e.g. passports) and stuff I could lose without caring (e.g. old writing projects) are in there, and it's not like I'm going to wheel the cabinet out if I've been given 10 minutes to evacuate. Inspired by this comment I'm thinking of getting a big ol' adult Trapper Keeper, which is great for its portability -- but would I be better served by having a fireproof / waterproof box? And what papers do I really need? Passports and birth certificates: yes? List of phone numbers? I think most of my financial stuff I could get from the companies' websites, but am I not thinking of something?

posted by The corpse in the library to Grab Bag (12 answers total)

Financial account numbers with username and passwords, because many of them won't talk to you without them.

Will, plus medical docs (power of attorney, living will, etc.)

Identity docs like birth certificates, passports, marriage license, name change papers.

Thumb drive with a periodic backup of your password safe?
posted by wenestvedt at 7:45 AM on August 19, 2023 [3 favorites]

We keep our important docs in a small portable waterproof/fireproof safe. Easy to grab and go if we get the chance but safe if we dont get to them in a fire.
posted by CleverClover at 7:52 AM on August 19, 2023 [1 favorite]

All of those documents and account IDs, plus credit cards, can be photographed and stored online. Will, passport, Birth Cert., and documents go in a fireproof box near the most likely exit door. Also, the drive that has the full backup of all your digital stuff. For most accounts these days, you really need the account data. Will and Passport have to be the actual document.

Risks are evacuation, disaster, house fire, theft. The fireproof boxes are not expensive. Put it someplace where it will not inspire theft.
posted by theora55 at 7:54 AM on August 19, 2023 [4 favorites]

You definitely need a fireproof envelope or box.

The most important thing would be birth certificates, car titles, death certificates, marriage certificates, pass ports. The reason for this is they will be a pain in the ass to replace.

I keep ALL my checks in one fireproof envelope. And I keep all my check numbers in a digital form (like in an email to myself). If my checks are stolen all I have to do is block that series of checks - I don't have to close the account or anything like that. For example, if my checks are stolen, I look up in my email and see that I started the checks numbered at 1000 - I just call my bank and tell them to cancel all checks of that account in the 1000 number series. And I buy new checks numbered with 2000.

I recently changed titles on a property and my lawyer said "here are the originals but don't worry you can always get a copy at the courthouse". So I'm not too concerned about that.

I keep my will, power of attorney etc. in a fireproof envelope at my son's house. I have also emailed a folder with copies of these things to important people (kids, lawyer).

I'm probably only going to grab my fireproof envelope with certificates if I have to evacuate.
posted by cda at 7:56 AM on August 19, 2023

I have this fireproof/waterproof bag that now serves as a go bag and also replaces the file cabinet as the permanent location for some documents.

It contains an expanding folder with:
- Copies of birth certificates
- Copy of our marriage certificate
- Voter registration cards
- Copies of SSN cards and passport photo pages
- Kids' vaccination records and COVID vax cards
- Current insurance policies (car, house)
- Copies of life insurance policies
- Car key codes
- Pet licenses and rabies vax
- A card with a reminder list of things I would want to grab if time (computers, good jewelry, box that holds checkbooks and key to safe deposit box, photo albums, fine art)
- A folded-up large Ikea bag to throw the above things in

I have copies of our powers of attorney, estate plans, my folks' estate planning docs in Dropbox., and originals of most of the above-mentioned legal docs live in a safe deposit box.
posted by Sweetie Darling at 8:03 AM on August 19, 2023 [11 favorites]

Fill out an estate organizer
College/university degrees
Cash
posted by saturdaymornings at 8:27 AM on August 19, 2023

Consider getting a NOK (Next of Kin) Box.
posted by tafetta, darling! at 8:48 AM on August 19, 2023 [3 favorites]

I’ve scanned everything and keep it in secure online storage. The username and password are known to anyone who might need them. I also keep my medical information in a separate online vault and carry the URL in my wallet in case I get hit by a car or some such.

My barebones real life evacuation kit is my passport, a credit card, and the equivalent of $300 USD in cash.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 12:25 PM on August 19, 2023 [3 favorites]

After looking up what a Trapper Keeper is, it's too big and bulky for a go bag. You want something smaller and waterproof. We have a travel passport wallet. Enough room for Passports, IDs, Birth/marriage/title certs, a couple of usb sticks, and a chuck of cash.
posted by gible at 4:06 PM on August 19, 2023

I would also consider putting some cash in there, preferably in $20s.

Depending on why you need to flee with this bag, electronic payment systems may also be down. You'll want cash for any incidentals.
posted by spinifex23 at 4:41 PM on August 19, 2023 [1 favorite]

Cash.
posted by sacrifix at 11:09 PM on August 19, 2023

Yeah, for me the "go-bag" stuff is either 1) stuff I expect to need while evacuated or 2) truly irreplaceable stuff. So in category 1) ID (passport and driver's license), cash, credit cards, and a piece of paper with my relevant account numbers/contact info for insurance, banking, etc. In category 2) maybe a few really beloved letters/photos (why must all my most sentimental possessions be so bulky?!).

Other stuff can be backed up digitally and/or go in a fireproof/waterproof box in the house - if the house stays whole or the box protects your stuff, great! If not, in the midst of all your other rebuilding/straightening things out you spend a quiet hour filling out forms and two weeks later you have new copies of your birth/death/marriage certificates, car title, social security card, etc.
posted by mskyle at 4:41 AM on August 20, 2023