Posted on 06/01/2009 10:47:03 PM PDT by smokingfrog
You can't get rid of all your important papers, but with a shredder and a scanner, you can reduce them to a handful. Of course, you have to know what you should keep, what you should scan, what you should shred, and what can safely be tossed into the recycling.
You should keep your original of birth and death certificates, passports and other citizenship documents, and your current will. Because of something called the Best Evidence Rule, you should also keep contracts in their original form. Courts will usually accept a copy of a contract, but if there are two conflicting versions of a contract, the one that isn't a copy carries greater weight.
What about tax records? Two different accountants told me that a scanned document wouldn't be a problem with the IRS. But when I called the IRS, a customer service representative recommended I "keep the original forms for three years."
You might still want to scan them for backup and for easier reference, especially if you and your papers are going to be physically separated for a long period of time.
You should shred your bank statements and credit card bills as soon as you're done with them. If these fall into the wrong hands, your identity could be stolen. In the unlikely event that you need an old statement, your bank or credit card company has records.
Anything else you want to keep can be scanned, and you can then dispose of the original. If that original contains your signature, bank account, credit card, or social security number, shred it before dumping it in the recycle bin.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Yeah, so what happens when Iran gives the “rogue group” the EMP nuke & then condemns the “anti-islamic act”? You lose all your stuff, that’s what happens. Make sure to have all the good stuff backed up on optical disk..
If I'm scanning my death certificate, I've got worse problems.
Democratic voters always have both on hand.
Except for the alleged President, who seems unwilling to show his birth certificate.
I'm in the computer support biz and I wouldn't recommend scanning everything like this articles suggests, FReepers.
Why?
BECAUSE YOU WON'T BACK IT UP!
We get loads of calls every week from people full of anxiety and fear because their hard drives have failed. Even folks who have lost data before will not back stuff up, for some reason. I begininng to think it's genetic.
Keep the paper document, AND scan it, AND back it up OFF-SITE. Heaven forbid, if your home burns down, or someone should steal your filing cabinet :) you will have a backup OFF-SITE to recover your data.
I keep nothing. Nada.
Last month's bills? No.
Tax statements? I don't make enough money to pay taxes anymore. I quit supporting this gooberment.
Letters from creditors? Nada.
Birth certificate? I don't need one. I'm here. I was obviously born.
Burrocrats can go pound sand. Because I quit playing. 'Eff 'em.
/johnny
Something about a 5th Amendment....
/johnny
Kinda looks like my desk-My records go back as far as 2002.
I guess it’s time for a cleanup!
Well, yeah, there’s that method too...:)
Of course, if you’re the only one without paperwork then the ‘other guy’ gets to use his documents.
Often not a good alternative.
He’s sorta lookin’ out for himself, don’cha know.
Get rid of everything. Just...be sure to make a copy of it first. You know, to be safe.
“If I’m scanning my death certificate, I’ve got worse problems.”
Maybe he meant Marriage Certificate...
CDs dont last. If it is import. have it copied to high quality paper.
Keep copies of all tax returns going back 20 years, ya know so when the Messiah imposes a 90% tax rate retroactive to 1990.
That looks just like my son’s room. LOL!
Quick - run and see if the curtains are the same. Maybe it IS his room!
ROFLMAO!!!
I have fragments of computer parts around my chair...
ROLF. Let me guess. The room was spotless until he started to eat his lunch.
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