What else belongs in your vault? Deeds, titles, and everything 'Other'
"Other" is the catch-all corner of your vault. It's for the everyday paperwork that doesn't fit neatly under wills, insurance, or medical forms — deeds, vehicle titles, account details, marriage or divorce records, and business papers. If your family might need it one day, this is where it goes.
Why it matters
Here's a simple test: if losing it would make someone's life harder, it belongs in the vault.
These are the papers families end up hunting for while they're already busy with something else. A car title nobody can find can hold up a sale. A deed in an unmarked box turns a simple transfer into weeks of phone calls. An account no one knew about can sit quiet for years. None of that is dramatic. It's just avoidable.
What to gather
Start with what's already in your drawer or filing cabinet. Then fill the gaps a few at a time.
- Property deeds — the county recorder or register of deeds where the property sits keeps the official record.
- Vehicle, boat, or RV titles — your state's motor vehicle agency can replace a lost one.
- Marriage certificates — the county clerk or state vital records office where the marriage happened.
- Divorce decrees — usually the clerk of the court that issued them.
- Account details — a plain list is enough: bank, brokerage, retirement, credit cards. Institution and account type, not passwords.
- Business papers — formation documents, operating agreements, and any partnership or buy-sell agreement. Your secretary of state's office holds copies of what you filed.
- Veterans matters — your DD-214 is the key document, and the VA can help you request a replacement copy.
- Prearranged funeral contracts — the funeral home that holds the arrangement.
- Trusts, or anything you're unsure about — an estate attorney can tell you what you actually need.
Not all of this will apply to you. If you rent, don't own a business, or never served, you can skip those with a clear conscience.
Good to know
People often assume a scan replaces the original. Usually it doesn't. Some documents — vehicle titles especially — still need the original paper to change hands, and the rules vary by state. A scan is still worth having. It proves what the document says, captures the numbers someone will be asked for, and reminds your family the document exists. Add one line to the description saying where the original is kept: the safe, the file cabinet, the bank box. That single note saves the most time of anything you'll do here.
Keep it safe
Once you have a document, upload it to your Hoovalu vault and choose who in your Circle can open it. Some papers make sense for everyone you trust; others only matter to one person, and that's your call to make.
Related reading
This article is general education, not legal advice.