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Storing documents correctly: What is important?
Find out which documents you should definitely keep in order to be protected in an emergency. From birth certificates to wills, this information is irreplaceable. Protect yourself from data theft!
Storing documents correctly: What is important?
Over the years, countless documents accumulate, from birth certificates to pay stubs. This multitude of documents can not only lead to overcrowded filing cabinets, but can also cause confusion when it comes to keeping track. Many people strive to free themselves from the flood of paper, but don't know exactly which documents they should keep and which can be safely thrown away.
The consumer advice center recommends that you never dispose of documents that provide information about your ancestry, identity, professional or educational qualifications or personal finances. These documents are often not only relevant for your own use, but can also be important for relatives. Medical records should also be retained, as the required retention period in hospitals or doctor's offices is usually 10 years. Wills are an exception, as they are usually filed with the probate court or district court.
The documents that should definitely be kept include, among others, the birth certificate, financial investments such as stocks or savings accounts, valid identification documents such as the ID card or passport, marriage certificates or divorce papers, purchase contracts for larger purchases such as cars or watches, loan documents, land register extracts from real estate, living wills, medical documents, certificates from school or study as well as enforcement notices and court judgments.
It is very important to bring order to the chaos of paper and keep the right documents. Employment contracts, social security reports, proof of periods of unemployment and other important documents should also be retained as they can play a role in calculating pension entitlements. On the other hand, tradesmen's invoices, receipts, guarantee documents and certain sales contracts have different retention periods depending on their validity, which are usually between one and six years. Tax documents should be kept for the tax office for at least four years, sometimes even up to ten years.
It is advisable not to simply throw away important documents, but to destroy them securely to protect sensitive information. A new Schufa tool can provide information about whether personal data has already fallen victim to data theft. In the event of an emergency, it is also advisable to make backup copies of the most important documents and keep them within easy reach in a document folder.