The weekend of September 10, I heard an excellent program on American Public
Media’s program Marketplace Money. Hillary Wicai reported on
what she called the
“Let’s-Go-Now Box.” It was a list of all-important papers/documents
that you should have in one location with which you can literally pick up and
go in the event of an emergency. Wicai suggested that you have a copy of all
these documents and papers in a file box or some other container that you can
take with you. It obviously would not include everything in your business,
but it could include enough to minimize the problems that you might later have
in proving who you are or otherwise gaining access to information.
According to Wicai, you should have these documents (or copies) in a fireproof
safe at all times, and with you in case of an emergency:
Copy of drivers license (front and back)
Copies of credit cards (front and back)
Health insurance card
Property deeds and titles
Basic info about employee benefits
Auto and homeowners insurance
Life and umbrella liability insurance
Wills
Trusts
Powers of attorney and other estate documents
Copies of last three state and federal tax
returns
Children’s adoption papers
Marriage and birth certificates
Passports
Military discharge papers
A list of the entire contents of your wallet
Also, take the time to do a household inventory. Go room by room with a video
recorder and document your belongings.
