72% of Adults Don’t Have Their Important Documents in One Place 

A recent RocketLawyer (2023) study revealed a staggering truth: 72% of adults don’t have their key documents stored in one place.

That means the majority of families would struggle to locate essential papers — birth certificates, insurance policies, property deeds, or financial accounts — if an emergency struck today.

It’s not about negligence or lack of care. Life gets messy. Documents accumulate over the years, scattered across file drawers, email attachments, cloud folders, and even the backseat of the car after tax season. The problem only becomes visible when something urgent happens — a hospitalization, a move, or the loss of a loved one — and the people left behind are forced to piece it all together.

The Hidden Cost of Disorganization

When critical information isn’t organized, the impact goes beyond inconvenience. Families often face:

• Delayed access to funds or benefits, such as insurance payouts or retirement accounts.
• Legal complications may arise if wills, trusts, or powers of attorney can’t be located quickly.
• Added emotional stress, as loved ones juggle grief with paperwork and guesswork.

In moments when clarity is most needed, disorganization creates confusion and conflict. What’s worse, many of these situations are preventable with a few simple habits.

How to Take Control — Without Overwhelm

You don’t have to organize everything overnight. Start with the essentials — the documents that would matter most in an emergency.

Step 1: Gather

Collect originals or digital copies of these top categories:

• Identification (driver’s license, Social Security card, passport)
• Legal documents (will, trust, power of attorney)
• Financial accounts (banking, investments, insurance policies)
• Property records (home deeds, mortgages, car titles)
• Health and medical documents (insurance cards, directives, prescriptions)

Step 2: Centralize

Choose one trusted place for everything — whether it’s a physical kit like the Orderly Affairs Kit, or a secure digital vault. The goal is consistency. Every document should have a known home, not a “somewhere safe” guess.

Step 3: Share Access Wisely

Ensure that at least one trusted person is aware of the location of your organized materials. This step is often overlooked, yet it’s the most important one. An organization without communication is only half complete.

Step 4: Maintain

Set a reminder once a year — your birthday, tax season, or New Year’s Day — to review and update your documents. Replace expired IDs, update insurance information, and remove any outdated details.

The Peace of Mind You’ll Gain

When your documents are organized, you’re not just tidying papers — you’re protecting your family’s time, money, and peace of mind. You’re giving them the gift of clarity in a moment that might otherwise be filled with chaos.

Being part of the 28% who have it all together isn’t about perfection. It’s about preparation.

Because when something happens, your loved ones shouldn’t have to search — they should know where to turn.