How to Determine the Legality of Shredding Confidential Documents

Handling confidential documents correctly is important for keeping your identity safe. These documents also protect your financial interests by showing proof of payments or documenting a dispute or legal action. Knowing what you can legally shred and what you should keep, and for how long, will help you protect yourself and stay within the law.

Instructions

1. Immediately shred any confidential documents you won't use, like pre-approved credit card applications.

2. Shred confidential documents like reconciled bank statements, canceled checks and medical bills or statements each month. Make sure you agree with what's listed on the statements before you shred them. Until the dispute is settled, hang on to the information.

3. Review your paperwork annually and shred retirement information, bills or other financial statements once you've reconciled the information and have no disputes or corrections to make.

4. Destroy confidential information, like the titles to cars or property you haven't owned for the past seven years. Shred any tax paperwork more than seven years old.

5. Hang on to specific documentation, like birth certificates, death certificates, marriage certificates or wills and powers of attorney.

Tips & Warnings

• Discuss specific confidential documents with an attorney if you're unsure of when or if you can legally shred them or need to keep them. Various insurance companies and specific creditors may require you to keep documentation longer than you may think.

• Choose a cross cutting shredding system that can handle staples to make shredding a variety of documents easier.