What to Keep, Where to Store, When to Shred

Item	Store In	Shred After	Give Copies To
Originals you rarely need	Â	Â	Â
Adoption papers	Bank-safe deposit box	Never discard	Executor, lawyer
Citizenship papers	Bank-safe deposit box	Never discard	Executor
Divorce decree	Bank-safe deposit box	Never discard	Lawyer
Lawsuits	Bank-safe deposit box	Never discard	Lawyer
Household inventory	Bank-safe deposit box	Never discard	Financial advisor
Photos of possessions	Bank-safe deposit box	Never discard	Financial advisor
Military discharge	Bank-safe deposit box	Never discard	Never discard
Veteran’s papers	Bank-safe deposit box	Never discard	Never discard

Item	Store In	Shred After	Give Copies To
Originals sometimes need	Â	Â	Â
Birth certificate	Fire-burglar resistant safe at home	Never discard	Â
Cemetery deed	Fire-burglar resistant safe at home	Never discard	Heir
Real estate deeds	Fire-burglar resistant safe at home	10 years after ppty is sold	Â
Death certificate	Locked filing cabinet	Never discard	Executor
Diplomas	Fire-burglar resistant safe at home	Never discard	Â
Guardianship documents	Fire-burglar resistant safe at home	Never discard	 Executor, guardian
Health records	Fire-burglar resistant safe at home	Never discard	Doctor
Immunization records	Fire-burglar resistant safe at home	Never discard	Doctor
Marriage certificates	Fire-burglar resistant safe at home	Never discard	Executor
Medical directive	Fire-burglar resistant safe at home	Never discard	Doctor, heir
Naturalization certification	Fire-burglar resistant safe at home	Never discard	Â

Item	Store In	Shred After	Give Copies To
Tax documents	Â	Â	Â
Bank statements	Locked filing cabinet	7 years	Â
Cancelled checks	Locked filing cabinet	7 years	Â
Credit card statements	Locked filing cabinet	7 years	Â
Home purchase or improvements papers*	Locked filing cabinet	7 years after home sold	Â
Tax returns & supporting documents	Locked filing cabinet	7 years after filing date	Â
Form 8606	Locked filing cabinet	7 years after IRA is liquidated	Â

*deeds, surveys, title policies, blueprints, loan papers, receipts, etc.

Item	Store In	Shred After	Give Copies To
Investment documents	Â	Â	Â
Annuity contracts	Locked filing cabinet	Annuity paid out	Financial advisor
Loan agreements	Locked filing cabinet	10 yrs after loan repaid	Â
Pension plan documents	Locked filing cabinet	Never discard	Financial advisor
Real Estate purchase or improvements	Locked filing cabinet	7 yrs after property is sold	Â
Investment account statements	Locked filing cabinet	7 yrs after last investment sold	Â

This information is courtesy of Idaho Banking Company, Boise Idaho. Thank you Dawn Davis, Park Center Branch Manager!