What should you do with documents left behind by deceased loved ones?

It can be hard to let go of the things left behind by our late loved ones, even if they have passed away many years ago.

Sometimes, it's for sentimental reasons—their favorite clothes, letters and gifts, or their personal collection of knick-kacks. Other times, it can be documents that you're not sure you can dispose of - identification cards, passports, bank books, and other legal paperwork.

According to Integrated Bar of the Philippines member Atty. Marco Banaag, it's best to keep any important paperwork until all the properties and liabilities of the deceased have been taken care of or passed on to the heirs.

"Look out for any documents that prove ownership of assets as these are the most important for settling the estate of the deceased," Banaag told GMA News Online in an interview.

Among the documents that should be secured are the deceased's death certificate, land titles, property deeds, stock certificates, bank passbooks, bank certificates of deposit, and insurance policies.

What is the most important document you must secure right after a loved one passes away?

The death certificate is the one requirement that all institutions will ask from heirs. It is needed to prove that the person is really deceased so the process of settling the estate can begin.

There's also the last will and testament, which the deceased may or may not have created. Usually it will be left with the late person's lawyer for safekeeping.

How can you protect the documents against wear and tear?

If the process of settling the estate takes some time, it's best to have multiple copies of the documents. In case of fire or flooding, it would also be good to have digital copies.

"In the unfortunate event that the originals or certified true copies are lost, they can prove that the documents existed," Banaag said. "The photocopies or scanned copies will serve as proof of their existence for purposes of processing the reconstitution of the document."

What should you do with the old documents once the estate has been settled?

If the deceased's liabilities are cleared and the properties distributed to the heirs with new paperwork under their name, the old documents can already be disposed of.

To protect any personal information, Banaag suggested for them to be destroyed using a paper shredding machine. Double shredding is advisable.

However, Banaag said these are only general suggestions and does not constitute legal advice. Heirs settling their loved one's estate should always consult their own lawyer for an opinion on their own particular situation. —JCB, GMA Integrated News