Usually when we think of spring cleaning we picture ourselves scrubbing the house from top to bottom, sorting through our closets for clothes we never wear, and throwing out junk we haven't touched in years. The filing cabinets and boxes marked "important" sit untouched because we're afraid to throw anything out! We're here to help. Check out our Spring Cleaning Tips below for tips on when you can finally throw out some of those old papers. As a reminder, you should not throw documents with personal information directly into your trash or recycling bins. Instead, use a shredder, identity protection stamp, or locate a local "shred day" to discard of personal documents.
As you are weeding through your filing cabinets, this is also a good time to quickly review your estate planning documents and beneficiary forms. You should check to make sure that your documents are still consistent with your wishes, your beneficiary forms are up-to-date, and that there have been no significant changes in your life (or the law) that may impact your documents. If changes are necessary, spring cleaning time is a great time to contact your estate attorney and make updates.
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