Hurricane Irma Safety Precautions

With Hurricane Irma quickly approaching the state of Florida, we here at Lauren Richardson Law, PLLC, understand how daunting hurricane preparations can be. While purchasing gas, food and water, are some of the basic preparations, it is equally important to secure important documents either electronically or in a waterproof location in case of flooding. The important financial and legal documents we are referring to include…

• Insurance policies (homeowners, automobile, boat)

• Tax returns (previous year)

• Birth certificate(s)

• Marriage certificate

• Passport(s)

• Vehicle title(s)

• Title insurance policy

• Deed to real estate

• Banking information

• Medical records

• Financial insurance policies (long-term care, life, annuity and disability)

• Estate-planning documents

• Will

• Trust

• Financial power of attorney

• Designation of health care surrogate

• Living will

• HIPAA release

According to a 2015 Rocket Lawyer estate-planning survey by Harris Poll, 64 percent of Americans don't have a will. Twenty-seven percent of those Americans without an estate plan, don’t see the urgency in creating one. With Hurricane Irma being described as a “Nuclear Hurricane,” having an estate plan is more important now than ever. Because natural disasters are unpredictable, an estate plan allows a person to prepare for a worst-case-scenario and protect his/herself as well as his/her family no matter what happens.

At Lauren Richardson Law, PLLC, we hope that all Florida residents stay safe and take the proper precautions during this scary time. We urge you to keep your financial, legal and estate-planning documents organized and safe during times of unpredictability. Have an emergency plan that ensures the safety of yourself and your family. If you have any questions about estate planning and how to properly prepare for a hurricane, we offer a free 15-minute phone consultation.

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