We have all done it – lost that important tax record, or document at time when it is most needed. Keeping records is a tedious and clutter filled exercise. I am simply taking this opportunity to reiterate how important it is to keep personal records and keep them in a clear and organized fashion.
Recently, I had a family member who used a different name than their birth name growing up. This comes up more often than one would realize, especially with older generations. The law has evolved, rapidly, in the last several decades to be more detailed and inclusive of the things people need, such as name changes. In the past, while the process may have been available, people didn’t really use it, they just used a name that was different than the name on their birth certificate and generally, and things were okay.
Today, however, is a different story. There have been too many bad apples that have ruined the bunch and now your driver’s license, legal documents, and passports must adhere to the name on your birth certificate. Keeping records, such as your birth certificate, name change petitions and marriage license (even after a divorce) can literally save the day when the time comes.
I recently met a person who told me they were divorced, but they could not find a copy of their divorce decree. When we searched the court records in Washoe County, there was no record of the decree. The person swears under all this holy, and maybe some things that are unholy, that the divorce was done in Washoe. So, we looked in other counties. Not one single court has a copy of the decree. This is becoming an issue as the person is about to inherit some money from a rich uncle, but the uncle’s trust requires that the person not be married to a certain ex. To prove this to the Trustee, we need a decree. Alas, we cannot find one!! Not all hope is lost, but indeed, it is going to cost more money to get this record for my client than should have been required. Had this person kept good records of the divorce they thought they had obtained, they would not have needed to go to court now and plead for a new document to conform with what they understood happened some years ago.
This seems like simple advice, but what I have noticed with many people is that paper is clutter and clutter is stressful. Indeed, it is but not having that record when you need it can cost thousands of dollars in expenses you did not expect, which to me would seem, even more stressful. Do yourselves a favor and tuck those documents into electronic storage or paper storage for future use. If nothing else, it leaves a fun trail for others to find upon your death. For more tips and legal insights, visit Surratt Law Practice. Happy record keeping all!
