Prepare Legal California Aging Parents Forms For Free

Store your papers upright. For optimal efficiency, it's crucial to store papers in a hanging-file system. Put each category of papers in a separate folder and store them in a filing cabinet or upright in a filing box placed on a shelf. Storing them this way makes it easy for you to see how many papers you have.

To organize: With everything divvied up by category, put each stack in chronological order with the newest papers on top. ... Insert label dividers ? one for each category that applies. Punch holes on the left side of each record. ... On the back of each divider, write related names and contacts.

Common documents include a will, durable power of attorney for finances, and a living trust. A will specifies how your estate ? your property, money, and other assets ? will be distributed and managed when you die.

5 Tips to Help Your Aging Parents Get Organized Step 1: Take Stock of Everything. Assess your parent's situation and put a plan together. ... Step 2: Consider All Contingencies. ... Step 4: Take It Slow (if You Have the Luxury of Time) ... Step 5: When All Else Fails, Call an Expert.

Financial documents ?If a family member cannot locate important documents like tax returns or bank account information, it could delay care or even cause a senior to be denied insurance like Medicaid or veterans benefits,? says Tiffany Wise, senior director of customer development at A Place for Mom.

Keep important papers and copies of legal documents in one place ? and tell a trusted family member. You can set up a file in a cabinet, or put everything in a desk or dresser drawer. If you keep information in multiple places, be sure to keep the locations tracked in a notebook or ledger.