Locate Important Documents

What you'll need

• Access to the deceased's home and any storage areas
• Access to their computer, email, and cloud storage if available
• A secure place to store documents you find

Steps

1. Start with the obvious physical locations — filing cabinets, fireproof safes, desk drawers, and any box labeled "important." Check the bedroom, home office, and any storage areas.
2. Look for a will or trust document first. This is the most time-sensitive — some states require the will to be filed with the probate court within a specific timeframe after death.
3. Gather these documents if they exist: will and/or trust, birth certificate, Social Security card, passport, marriage or divorce certificates, military discharge papers (DD-214), deeds and property titles, vehicle titles, life insurance policies, financial account statements, and tax returns from the past 3 years.
4. Check digital storage — email inboxes (search "policy," "account," "statement"), cloud storage (OneDrive, Google Drive, iCloud), and any password manager if you have access credentials.
5. Check with their attorney, accountant, or financial advisor — professionals often hold copies of important documents.
6. Look for a safe deposit box key. Check their bank to locate the box.
7. Organize everything you find into categories: legal, financial, insurance, property, identity documents.