A number of the deceased's official documents will be needed in order to finalize future tasks related to the Estate.

If you are unable to locate these documents in the deceased's home or office, you may need to check other hidden areas, or a safe deposit box.

If can't find a safe deposit box key, you may need to file a petition with Probate Court to gain access.

It may also be helpful to contact the deceased's professional service providers and ask them to provide copies.

These documents include but are not limited to:

• Birth certificate


• Social Security card / number


• Citizenship information (visa, green card, naturalization papers)


• Drivers license


• Passport


• Marriage license or domestic partnership registration (if applicable)


• Divorce documentation papers (if applicable)


• Court documents for adoptions (if applicable)


• Social Security information


• Veterans benefits (if applicable)

Scanning and / or saving these documents and saving them in an online cloud service can be helpful for easy reference and access. See below for links for available services.