Getting the Paper Trail Together

• legal name and spouse’s
• Social Security number and spouse’s
• legal residence
• date and place of birth
• location of birth certificates, marriage certificate, divorce decrees, naturalization and adoption papers
• names and addresses of spouse and children (or location of death certificates if any are deceased)
• education and military records
• list of employers and dates of employment
• religious affiliation, addresses of church, synagogue, clergy
• membership in organizations and awards received
• names and addresses of close friends, relatives, doctors, lawyers, or financial advisors
• location of will or trusts and spouse’s (you don’t need to disclose contents)
• Durable power of attorney, living wills, requests, preferences, or prearrangements for burial

MEDICAL RECORDS

• phone numbers–physicians, pharmacists, emergency services, and hospitals
• health charts for each family member

• medical conditions (summary)
• allergies
• past illnesses (dates)
• operations
• physicians consulted, reasons, phone numbers, addresses
• immunization history
• Medicare and Medicaid information
• Medicare EOMB’s (explanation of Medicare benefits)

FINANCIAL RECORDS

• real estate deeds, mortgages, titles, notes
• Social Security earnings record and information
• sources of income, pensions, interest, dividends, etc.
• investents (certificates of deposit, stock certificates, bonds, notes, savings bonds)
• insurance policies or location (life, accident, health, auto, and property), with policy numbers
• medical expense records
• bank accounts (checking, savings, credit unions) with addresses and account numbers
• location of safety deposit box and key
• a listing of the contents or documents in safety deposit box
• federal, state, and local income tax returns (last 6 years)
• property tax statements
• loans you owe and status
• automotive title, registration, bills of sale
• business and partnership agreements
• liabilities–what is owed, to whom, and when
• credit cards, charge accounts (name and numbers)
• location of personal items such as jewelry or family treasures
• personal property inventory

LONG-TERM CARE

An important consideration in financial planning is the cost of medical services and long-term-care, although there is often no easy or simple way to determine or meet these future needs. It is especially important to know what Medicare does and does not cover.

LIFE-SUSTAINING DOCUMENTS

Caring for an older person or preparing for our own aging can be more successfully managed by making decisions and arrangements before a crisis develops. Three legal documents (power of attorney, durable power of attorney, or a living will) can be helpful in assuming responsibility for another person’s affairs.

For the long-term care and life-sustaining documents categories, the Ohio State Bar Foundation offers clear and concise information through their “Light the Way” project.