April 6, 2015
If your file cabinets are overflowing and you can’t close the drawers, it might be time to start sorting through your documents. We know it can be difficult to decide what to keep and what to shred, so use the handy chart below to make your decisions. You may be surprised to learn the shelf life of some records.
Shred Documents
- Bank StatementsOne year, unless needed to support tax filings
- Birth certificates, marriage licenses, divorce degrees, passports, education records, military service recordsForever
- ContractsUntil updated
- Credit Card RecordsUntil paid, unless needed to support tax filings
- Household InventoryForever; update as needed
- Insurance policy, lifeForever
- Insurance policy, car, home, etc.Until you renew the policy
- Investment statementsShred your monthly statements; keep annual statements until you sell the investment
- Loan documentsUntil you sell the item the loan was for
- Real estate deedsAs long as you own the property
- Receipts for large purchasesUntil you sell or discard the item
- Social Security cardForever
- Social Security statementWhen you get your new statement online, shred the old one
- Tax recordsSeven years from the filing date
- Vehicle titlesUntil you sell or dispose of the car
- WillUntil updated
List compiled by USA.gov.