Collect and secure other useful documents

There are many other financial, insurance, and legal documents that you may need throughout this process. If you can’t find something, there will likely be other workarounds, so don’t stress too much.

Here is a list of all of the documents that could be helpful:

Legal papers:

  • Social Security Card or number

  • Birth certificates of family members

  • Marriage license/certificate or domestic partnership registration

  • Court documents for adoptions and divorces (including property settlement agreements, name changes, and prenuptial agreements)

  • Driver’s license

  • Passport, citizenship, and immigration papers

  • Military service papers, including discharge records (call 314-801-0800 if you don’t have these)

Deeds, titles, and loan records:

  • Real estate property deeds and recent appraisals

  • Mortgage documents including promissory/loan notes

  • Vehicle titles and registrations (for cars, boats, RVs, etc.)

  • Other promissory notes/loans owed by or to the deceased

Financial accounts:

  • Bank account (checking, savings, CD) statements

  • Investment/brokerage account statements

  • Retirement account (IRA, 401(k), annuity) statements 

  • Credit card account statements

  • Stock and Bond certificates. For stocks or bonds held in certificate form, the original certificate will be used to transfer legal title.

  • Benefit papers: survivor annuity, employer retirement/pension, veterans benefit, disability

  • List of safety deposit boxes, where to find keys, and names of authorized users

  • Income Tax Returns - federal and state for the past three years

  • Gift Tax Returns - federal and state

  • Property tax returns

  • Business documents (if the deceased owned a business): Corporate, LLC or partnership documents, account statements, contracts, business licenses, income tax returns

Insurance policies:

  • Life insurance, life insurance annuity, and/or accidental death

  • Health insurance (Medicare or Medicaid, private, dental, long-term care)

  • Homeowners/renters

  • Auto insurance

  • Workers’ compensation insurance

  • Veterans’ insurance

  • Employers or pension insurance

  • Funeral insurance

  • Mortgage and/or credit insurance

  • Credit card insurance

Bills and leases:

  • Utility

  • Cell phone

  • Credit cards

  • Real estate taxes and leases

  • Storage unit

  • Medical

  • Funeral

  • Automobile lease

  • Membership certificates

Digital:

  • Usernames and passwords for online accounts (email, financial, social media)

  • Usernames and passwords to access computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices

Here are some tips on where to look for these documents:

  • Filing cabinets

  • Safety deposit box

    1. Look around for a safe deposit box key

    2. If you can’t find it, contact the banks the deceased did business with and ask if they had a box. You may have to file a petition with a probate court for an order to open the box.

  • If the deceased used an attorney, accountant, financial manager, or tax preparation firm, they should have a copy of the estate planning documents.

  • Search form names on their computer

  • Ask close family and friends where the deceased stored important documents

  • Check the surrogate or probate courts where the deceased lived or has lived before to see if a will was filed for safekeeping.

  • If the deceased used an attorney, accountant, financial manager, or tax preparation firm, they should have a copy of the estate planning documents

  • Search for forms / PDFs on the deceased’s computer

  • Ask close family and friends where the deceased stored important documents

  • Check with HR at the deceased's employer - they may have insurance documents and tax documents

  • If the deceased was a veteran, get their discharge documents by calling: 314-801-0800

  • Look online at the relevant companies (e.g., insurance company’s claims portal, financial institutions) if you have the login information

  • Call companies (e.g., banks, life insurance companies) that do business where you live

  • Look for proof of payment to relevant companies (e.g., life insurance companies, utilities) on bank and credit card accounts

  • Check your state’s unclaimed property department

finding documents, settling affairsJennifer Goodfinance, finding documents & accounts, financial and property, legacy and funeral, medical and legalComment