Putting your life back together after a natural disaster can be overwhelming and costly. The burden becomes even heavier when vital documents are lost or destroyed. You can keep your important documents secure with some preparation and organization. It is best to store important documents in a waterproof, fireproof, lockable box or safe. Saving your documents on a thumb drive is another helpful way to ensure your documents are protected. Further, using a portable box that is easy to carry can be beneficial in the event you must evacuate.
It is important to know what documents you should consider keeping in your safe box. Birth certificates, death certificates, marriage and divorce records should all be kept secure, as well as insurance documents, passports, and social security cards. It is also imperative to keep any estate planning documents, such as wills and powers of attorney, in your safe place.
What should you do if you lose your important documents during a disaster?
Below are some resources that can help.
Bank Cards and Credit Cards – Visit your local bank branch or contact the customer service department to report your card lost and request a new card. You can also help guard yourself against fraud by placing a fraud alert on your credit report. By contacting one of the three major credit bureaus and alerting them of your lost card, it will be harder for criminals to open accounts in your name. You only need to notify one bureau, as each one is required to notify the others of fraud alerts.
TransUnion 1-800-680-7289
Experian 1-888-397-3742
Equifax 1-800-525-6285
Birth, Death, Marriage and Divorce Records - visit https://alabamapublichealth.gov/vitalrecords to request replacement documents.
Deeds/Mortgages – Visit your respective county’s probate court website to download copies of property documents.
Driver’s Licenses/ID Cards – Visit your local Driver’s License Office.
Insurance Documents – Contact your insurance agency.
Medicare – Visit your local Social Security Administration office. You can also sign into your account at https://secure.ssa.gov to request a replacement card.
Medicaid Cards – Call 1-800-362-1504 to ask for a replacement card. Or, you can order a replacement card by setting up an account at My Medicaid using this link: https://medicaidhcp.alabamaservices.org/Default.aspx?alias=medicaidhcp.alabamaservices.org/Recipient. This site, also, lets you print out a temporary card.
Passports – Visit http://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/after/lost-stolen.html
Social Security Cards –
Adult - You can apply for a free Social Security replacement card if yours is lost or stolen. You will need to show the required documents to prove identity, so be sure to obtain your birth certificate or another current form of ID showing your name, birth date or age, and a recent photograph. Some acceptable forms of identification for adults include U.S passport, U.S. driver’s license, and state-issued non-driver identification cards.
Child - To replace a card for a child, forms of ID must show your child’s name, identifying information such as age, date of birth, or parents’ names, and preferably a recent photograph of the child. A non-photo identification document may be acceptable if it includes enough information to identify the child. These documents may include a state-issued non-driver identification card, adoption decree, certified medical record, religious record, school record, or school identification card.
Visit https://ssa.gov/myaccount/replacement-card.html to set up an account and request a new card. You can also visit your nearest Social Security office or call toll free at 1-800-772-1213.
Tax Documents – You may order a copy of past tax returns online by visiting https://IRS.gov and clicking on “Get Transcript by Mail.” Contact your employer for copies of a W-2, 1099, or K-1. If you are unable to obtain a copy from your employer, contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040.
Wills and Estate Planning Documents – In the event your original will has been lost or destroyed, you should execute a new will.
U.S. Mail – If you think you may be a victim of theft or destruction of your mail, you can call 1-877-876-2455 or file a complaint online at https://www.uspis.gov/report/ . You can also call 800-ASK-USPS (275-8777) for general assistance.
If you are having trouble replacing identifying documents or accessing records and live in Baldwin, Clarke, Mobile, or Washington counties, the South Alabama Volunteer Lawyers Program may be able to help you.
Please contact SAVLP at (251) 438-1102 or 1-855-997-2857.
Thank you to Heather Sands, Esq., for providing this information. Ms. Sands serves as SAVLP’s Disaster Response Project Coordinator. The foregoing is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute legal advice. You should consult with a licensed Alabama lawyer to get advice about your particular situation.
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