How To

How to Secure Important Documents

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By eHow Contributing Writer
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Protecting important documents such as legal papers, property records, wills, certificates, insurance and medical documents from natural disasters and theft is essential. Choosing the appropriate storage medium ensures safety and keeping the storage organized provides easy retrieval during emergencies. Follow these steps to secure your documents.

Difficulty: Moderate
Instructions
  1. Step 1

    Pay an annual fee at your bank and rent a safe deposit box to keep your irreplaceable original documents. The box is accessible only by the customer using both the bank key and the customer key to open it.

  2. Step 2

    Invest in a fireproof and waterproof safe to store the copies of your documents. These are compact and portable. The safe can be opened using either a combination lock or digital electronic lock to for security.

  3. Step 3

    Convert the paper documents into electronic versions by scanning them and storing in a portable disc or memory stick. Encrypt the CD with a password and keep it in a safe place with your friends or relatives.

  4. Step 4

    Store a backup of original documents such as your will, prenuptial agreement and property records with a reliable third person like your attorney or financial adviser.

  5. Step 5

    Sign up with an online storage website for a private account. Upload your photos, videos and other important documents online. These are compressed and archived for quick retrieval and they can be accessed from any computer using the secure password.

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