Hurricane Season is Here! Where Should I Keep My Estate Planning Documents?

If you’ve lived in Florida for a while, you’re probably used to the ups and downs of a Florida hurricane season. If you’re new to Florida, maybe you’re still getting adjusted, learning what to do and how to plan, what to buy, how to secure your home and property.

What about your written estate plan? Clients often ask me how they should store their important legal documents, their last wills, trust, advanced directives, and financial information. Although I retain copies of my clients’ documents, I give the originals to my clients for safe keeping. So where should the originals be kept, and how will your family know where they are and how to access them?

I recommend you place your important documents in a fire and water-resistant safe at your home. Another option would be a bank safe deposit box. In either case, you should let your family or friends know where you’ve stored them and how to get to them in case of any emergency. One last thing, you may also want to scan and save a digital copy of your documents on a flash drive or cloud server.

If we can help you create a last will, trust, advanced directive, or other estate planning document, please contact us. We offer complimentary estate planning consultations, and you can reach us at (813) 244-7758 or at Ross@RossSpanoLaw.com.

Cheers!

Ross Spano