How to Replace Papers - Financial Security for All

It can be extremely distressing when important household papers are lost, stolen, or destroyed. Take heart in knowing that you are neither the first nor the last to face the problem of replacing important papers.

Many household records are replaceable—some quite easily. For example, your insurance company can send you another copy of your insurance policies, and the institution that holds your checking account can usually send you copies of cancelled checks. However, replacing some important papers may be costly and troublesome. The more difficult and expensive a record is to replace, the safer its storage should be.

Click on the links below for specific directions on replacing some of the more common important papers.

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Lesson Contents
I. Introduction
II. How to Get Organized
III. Organize Important Papers

a. Which Papers to Keep

b. Where to Keep Papers

c. How Long to Keep Papers

d. When to Update Papers

e. How to Replace Papers

e.1. Birth and death certificate

e.2. Citizenship and naturalization papers

e.3. Driver’s license

e.4. Federal income tax return

e.5. Insurance policies

e.6. Marriage licenses, marriage dissolutions, adoption decrees

e.7. Military discharge papers

e.8. Passport

e.9. Property deeds

e.10. Savings bonds and notes

e.11. Social Security card

e.12. Vehicle title

e.13. Will

IV. What are SMART Goals?

a. SMART Goal Setting Techniques

b. Write and Visualize Your Goals

Organize Your Important Household Papers belongs to a series called Legally Secure Your Financial Future. The series also includes information to help you communicate with others and begin preparing your estate plan.