My mother died three years ago and I was the executor of her estate. Everything has long since been settled, but I had a small suitcase full of papers I was afraid to trash. Now that we are moving and it’s 100% clear that there will be no further issues, I’m getting rid of things. But it feels a little weird. I have just destroyed, by cutting into pieces, a passport, two social security cards, a lot of credit cards for accounts that were long since closed, health insurance cards, a Medicare card, etc.
I assume that was fine (and anyway it is too late now), but are there any laws or guidelines about such matters?
For my mothers estate, I scanned those documents and saved digital copies of them. If they are ever needed again, the info is available, and I expect the original forms could be re-obtained from the appropriat government body – if they are ever needed again.
Then I destroyed the paper forms.
Just a heads-up: the link in the above post is not to an official government agency…it’s a private company.
(I have no idea if that affects the accuracy of the information.)
From the U. S. State Department:
To Cancel the Passport of a Deceased Relative
The Department of State recommends that a family member or executor of a deceased passport bearer return the passport for cancelation. The passport will be returned after it is canceled. Please submit the valid passport, a certified copy of the death certificate, and a letter requesting the cancelation and return (or destruction) of the passport to:
U.S. Department of State
Consular Lost and Stolen Passport Unit (CLASP)
CA/PPT/S/L/LE/CP
44132 Mercure Circle
P.O. Box 1227
Sterling, VA 20166-1227