The news has been filled with plenty of stories about devastating and tragic events that have forced people out of their homes suddenly.  This is why it’s so important for everyone to have a plan for how they will access their important documents and information if they are suddenly forced out of the home and must be able to rebuild their lives.  

You should try to prevent the scenario from playing out in your own family because it can take a long period of time and a lot of difficulties to gather all of these necessary pieces of information again.  If you can’t remember your account information or your passwords, or even how to get into your e-mail account, this can add delays of many weeks or months. 

You must first decide how to store the information that you might need to access in the event of a serious emergency.  Some people store their information online using password vault and online storage systems. 

Fireproof strong boxes that can be grabbed quickly can be used to store your most valuable documents, but if you are not home to get them, you might also want to have some of these scanned or stored in a backup location.  

Make sure that you consider some of the most important details you might need in the aftermath, including contact information for your advisors, access to your home insurance policy, copies of legal documents such as your trust, will, powers of attorney, and your account numbers and passwords.  

Although no one can anticipate a natural disaster that forces you outside of your home, taking action steps now to plan for the possibility will protect you and your loved ones.

Disclaimer: This blog post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this content does not create an attorney-client relationship. For legal advice specific to your situation, please consult with a qualified attorney.

Tiffany A. O'Connell, JD, LLM, CELA, AEP

About Tiffany A. O'Connell, JD, LLM, CELA, AEP

Tiffany A. O'Connell, JD, LLM, CELA, AEP is the CEO and Founding Partner of O'Connell Law, an estate planning and elder law firm serving clients across Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. She is one of a select group of attorneys in Massachusetts certified by the National Elder Law Foundation as a Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA). Tiffany focuses her practice on estate planning, trust and probate administration, Medicaid planning, long-term care planning, Alzheimer's planning, charitable planning, and retirement and wealth strategies. She has been helping families plan for their futures since opening her practice in 2010.

Credentials: JD, LLM, CELA (Certified Elder Law Attorney — National Elder Law Foundation), AEP (Accredited Estate Planner)

Licensed in: Massachusetts

Areas of Practice: Estate Planning, Elder Law, Medicaid Planning, Probate & Trust Administration, Alzheimer's Planning, Asset Protection

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