Part of estate planning is organizing your legal and financial records so the right people — spouse, executor, trustee, trusted family member, lawyer and/or planner — can easily find them. It makes sense to keep one copy of a document with your estate attorney or planner and one copy at home in a fireproof file. Don’t put wills, living trusts or powers of attorney in a safe deposit box since these are often sealed at death. If critical information is stored on your computer, make a disk copy and a paper copy.

Here’s a checklist to help you get organized. Make a list of your relevant documents and accounts, including their whereabouts, institution names and contact numbers, and beneficiary and ownership details. Give a copy to a trusted few once your plan is in place. Then relax and live.

1. ESTATE PLANNING
   Will, property and health care powers of attorney, living will, living trust
2. BUSINESS PAPERS
   Employment, partnership and buy-sell agreements; sole proprietorship information
3. TAX RECORDS
   Federal and state returns, gift- and estate-tax returns
4. PERSONAL LEGAL RECORDS
   Prenuptial agreements, divorce decrees, court judgments for and/or against you
5. BANKING
   Checking and savings account information, CDs, loans, credit card information
6. INVESTMENTS
   Brokerage accounts, mutual funds, annuity contracts, limited partnership agreements, stock and bond certificates
7. RETIREMENT
   Information on IRA, 401(k), Keogh and similar retirement accounts; annuities, pension plans, Social Security records
8. INSURANCE
   Life insurance and other types of policies
9. REAL ESTATE
   Deeds, mortgages, title insurance, rental properties, time shares, leases
10. PERSONAL PROPERTY
    Automobile, boat and airplane titles
11. PERSONAL PAPERS
    Social Security number, marriage certificate, birth certificate, military records

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