Where and how do you store your estate documents?

[C50]

I believe most our age have prepared some sort of estate plan, at least I hope so. I have just updated mine and am debating how to properly safe guard them.

Till now I've had the documents filed at our local Probate court office, but everytime I wanted to make a change it was a bit of a hassle, not to mention a $30 fee. Also nothing in my estate will need to be probated, everything is set up as TOD/POD (transfer on death/paid on death).

My daughter will be my executor, so I'm debating if I should give her all the original documents or keep the originals here at home. I have a gun safe, but what if she can't find the key? That could cause a delay. I purchased a fire resistant folder, but that worries me because a burglar could easily carry that away and have my personal info.

So what say you? How do you securely store your estate documents but make sure they are easily found and accessable after you pass.

 

[That Lady in PA]

fire proof, water proof home safe
Kids have the combination

 

[GoodEnuff]

In a clearly marked envelope in the desk file drawer. Executor knows this along with the important details. Break-ins here are next to never. And like OP, everything important is TOD/POD.

 

[jujube]

Fireproof home safe. My granddaughter has copies of all the documents since she's my executor.

 

[bowmore]

I have a binder labeled Estate Plan. There is a section I added with all the account numbers, passwords, and addresses of all the financial institutions.

 

[MACKTEXAS]

The attorney who prepared my Will made three copies, but none are photo copies. All three are originals, all witnessed and notarized, so that any one of them can be used as an original in court. That way, if one original is lost, damaged by fire, etc., there are others.
All three are in these places:

my home
safe deposit box
attorney's office

My Will was not filed with the County because that makes it public and I don't want anything about it to be known by the public. Also, I have not provided a copy to my Executor, nor have I disclosed to him the specifics of my Will, in the event I may one day decide to change it. However, he has been informed on where to find the Will(s) in the event of my death.

 

[Murrmurr]

I keep it all in an old accordion file that's on a shelf in our storage room, and my financial advisor (for over 30yrs) has a copy of everything. If it's something that has to go through a court or to my bank, a notary, or the state, or whatever, he takes care of that and sends me a copy.

 

[OldOld]

I have a living trust. The bank and brokerage and county office (I have a house) all have a copy of "certificate of trust". This certicificte lists who the trustee and survival trustee is, it doesn't show asset distribution info. I put all my original trust and will paper in a binder and put them at a "easy to find" location, such as kitchen drawer, or coffee table shelf.
but to be honest, I really don't care where my money goes after I die. My trust is to prevent some people from claiming my money. All my assets will go to charity.

 

[hollydolly]

I have a fireproof home safe which has copies but I store the originals in a safe deposit box at my bank

 

[Pepper]

Everything I have is either co-owned with son or POD to son. Do I need a will? I don’t have one.

 

[hollydolly]

Everything I have is either co-owned with son or POD to son. Do I need a will? I don’t have one.

No you don't need a will so long as there is no other person with a stake in your estate. As you just have your son, and grandson.. then your estate should go automatically to him... however it wouldn't harm you to make a will. You can do it online these days

 

[C50]

I guess I will just keep all the originals here at home locked in my gun safe, my daughter and son both know how to access the safe. That makes it easiest if I want to make any changes in the coming years, it also makes it safe to include a wad of cash as starter money until she can access my accounts.

My Will was not filed with the County because that makes it public and I don't want anything about it to be known by the public.

Mack how does filing it at the county probate office make it public info? Mine was in a sealed envelope, the probate court basically was serving as a storage facility. Even after death as long as your estate isn't probated the documents remain private.

 

[MACKTEXAS]

Mack how does filing it at the county probate office make it public info? Mine was in a sealed envelope, the probate court basically was serving as a storage facility. Even after death as long as your estate isn't probated the documents remain private.

I don't know - it was what my attorney told me and since I paid for her advice, I took it at face value.
After you asked the question, I passed it on to AI and got the response below. Apparently it would only become public once probate begins, but that's okay, I don't want it public either way, and I see no advantage to filing it with the County. My wife had a Will, and it was never filed, but was probated without problems. When I went before the judge, I don't recall any question asking me if it had been filed with the County. He just worked from my wife's original Will that was before him, and (our) attorney that was present.



Edited to add the following:

I just now rephrased my question to AI and got the additional response below which seems ambiguous. This time, I asked: "Is there any advantage to me filing my Will with the County?"
Here's the answer, which is more in line with my oiginal understanding:

 

[MACKTEXAS]

Everything I have is either co-owned with son or POD to son. Do I need a will? I don’t have one.

Probably not, unless you want to name a contingent beneficiary (POD) in the event your son predeceases you. POD takes precendent over a Will.