The documents families most often need are a durable power of attorney, a health care power of attorney, a living will or advance directive, a will or trust, and Medicare and insurance information. The goal isn't to collect the originals. It's to know what exists, where each one is kept, and who has copies. Ask your parent now, while they can tell you.
The moment families go looking for a parent's papers is usually the worst possible moment: a hospital admission, a sudden decline, or a death. Doing it calmly, ahead of time, and with your parent's help, saves a lot of searching later.
The core legal documents
- Durable power of attorney. Lets someone act on your parent's legal and financial matters, and stays in effect if your parent can no longer make decisions. A general (non-durable) power of attorney ends when the person can't make their own decisions.
- Health care power of attorney. Names who makes medical decisions if your parent can't. Sometimes called a health care proxy. Make sure the person named is willing to serve.
- Living will or advance directive. Describes the medical care your parent does or doesn't want if they can't speak for themselves.
- Will or trust. Says who receives property after death. Note who drafted it and where the signed original is.
State laws and forms vary, so documents should follow the rules of the state where your parent lives.
Other papers worth locating
- Medicare, Medicaid, and other insurance cards and policies (health, long-term care, life, home, car)
- Social Security and pension information
- Which banks and investment firms hold accounts
- The most recent tax return
- The deed to the home and car titles
- Safe deposit box location and where the key is
- Birth, marriage, and military records
- Contact information for their doctors, lawyer, and financial advisor
Where documents usually turn up
- Your parent. Ask directly. Most people know where their important papers are, even if they've never told anyone.
- A home file, desk drawer, or fireproof box.
- A safe deposit box. If originals are there, keep copies at home, since getting into a box can take time.
- The attorney who drafted the will or power of attorney, who may keep a copy or the original.
- The financial advisor or accountant, who often has account and tax records.
Permission is a separate step
Knowing where documents are doesn't give you the right to use them. Banks, Medicare, and doctors each have their own authorization process. Your parent can sign Medicare's CMS-10106 form so 1-800-MEDICARE can talk to you, and each doctor's office can explain its own form.
Review once a year
Look the list over every year and after major life changes, such as a move, a death in the family, or a new diagnosis. Have an attorney review legal documents periodically, since laws and circumstances change.
MyParentHQ's Legal, Financial, and Insurance modules are built around this approach: they record who the attorney is, where the will is kept, and which bank or insurer to call. They never ask for Social Security, account, or banking numbers. Those three modules are visible only to the Owner and Trusted Members, never to hired caregivers.
Record where your parent's important papers are, and who to call, without storing sensitive numbers.
Get Started FreeThis guide is general information, not legal advice. Talk with an attorney in your parent's state about their specific documents.