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Post by blessedapt on Jun 13, 2010 20:02:22 GMT -5
Hi HopeHope, I have had the same problem over the years, and even though I have two very long legal boxes in my bedroom, I have found that I did need the docs in them (and I would never been ever able to guess which ones in advance). I thought my case was dead and buried for more than 7 years (and it had started several years before) when all of a sudden it flared up and I was able to scare the insurance company and their lawyers with all of my paperwork and the arbitrator made them stop horsing around and work with me. (They said they had a lot of paper too, but I know I had more.) Long story short, you should keep it. A filing cabinet, as others have previousy suggested, is a good idea. My two boxes are stacked and take the place of a cabinet, but once I dig out my bedroom, my goal is to get a filing cabinet. Good luck!
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hopehope
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Post by hopehope on Jun 13, 2010 21:15:59 GMT -5
geez, this is so helpful.
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Post by CourageouslyLion SeeksSerenity on Jun 13, 2010 21:51:51 GMT -5
the binder idea does not sound right for this-- I would have to put 3 holes in every single thing. N.G. I insisted that the attorney purchase an electric three-hole puch. Otherwise, I would have had no hands left. and I always intended to sort them by case, and year.
and maybe envelope them that way, if it is small enough. Envelopes might work. I suggest labeling and NUMBERING each envelope. Then make yourself a master list in a notebook, by number and topic, so that you know that envelope #5 contains the case from 1995 about the carpet, or whatever. Then you store the envelopes in numbered order, and can pull each one out when you need it? Yes keep brainstorming.
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Post by Morningstar on Jun 14, 2010 0:22:22 GMT -5
Hi Hopeyhope, This thread came to mind when I read your thread. I used (and am still using) a similar method when I started attacking my paper backload. It doesn't focus on any particular kind of paperwork, but it's a good approach to important paperwork like legal documents. Morningstar
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hopehope
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Post by hopehope on Jun 14, 2010 13:15:09 GMT -5
thank you thank you thank you. only a sec on computer. guess what? wyo said she would be willing to go through paper for me and sort as she thinks right -- and let me check after. ?
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Post by eagle on Jun 21, 2010 16:53:32 GMT -5
The 3 hole punch doesn't seem at all right to me either, Hopehope. Envelopes can work, but perhaps you might do better with thick medical-type file folders. They are avaiable at Staples and Office Depot and other office supply stores. They come with built-in dividers (3 or more, depending on what's available in your store). They are usually top loading with metal bits to go through two top hole punches. They are very easy to organize and fit well into file cabinets.
A locking file cabinet seems the best bet, if at all possible. If you have hanging files in there and lable the hangers, you'll be able to find what you need once you organize it.
How you organize it probably depends on what makes the most sense to you. Following someone else's rationale doesn't always work for everyone else.
Thick manilla envelopes or clear plastic envelopes would work, too and you could label them just like files. And they fit into hanging file folders, too.
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Post by DJ on Jun 21, 2010 17:14:05 GMT -5
we have 4 years worth of a very angry separation, divorce, and child custody case... there are medical records, army records, psych records, hospitalisation records, school records, court filings, bank records, statements... the list goes on endlessly...
i DO keep it in cardboard boxes.. i use ikea's kassett boxes that are sized for file folders.. for me it works well. they have a label spot in them.. the paperwork is sorted by type- separation, divorce, post divorce custody. within those groups it is filed by date. records we access regularly are flagged with highlighter tabs. in the front we keep the collection of releases. we also keep a folder with next actions we need to take and another list of paperwork and responses we are waiting on from other parties. we also have video and audio recordings and those are on our computer and backed up to our external hard drive then we burn most recent copy and store it with the filed paperwork about monthly. we keep a list with the releases and digital media records of who has a release for who else and who has been given copies of digital records. for me it works better to sort by category. so within divorce there's civil court, legal court, banking, and so on, and those records are filed by date. we keep all written letters from all parties involved. digital communication goes with the audio and video and we don't bother printing it up, it's already in 3 locations- computer, back up drive, burned to cd/dvd and stored with paper records. we also have a contact list on our phone of all parties involved and a digital copy with print outs that we can share with others so they have access to all other parties involved...
the only thing we get rid of, and when we do we shred them or otherwise destroy them, is exact and true duplicates of records. it's usually much easier to save it all than read and compare exactly word for word.
that's how i've been trying to deal with legal paperwork hell. as paperwork comes out and needs to be refiled it goes into my inbasket til i can refile them. neglecting my inbasket is the total break down of the system :} oops.
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Post by def6 on Jun 21, 2010 17:54:12 GMT -5
Hey Hope! Here's a little brainstorming for ya. I lost some photos due to squalor and a computer virus but found them again where I stored them in Photo,bucket. Maybe there is a place to store documents of a sensitive nature online. If not, maybe a zip drive. Perhaps a lot of it is already a matter of record in the court house. If none of this is an option, try an accordian type file or a box file with file folders. Go through a little stack of it when you are resting and watching the tele. Yes , it is painful- but when you start making progress it becomes less painfull.
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Post by shopgirl on Jun 22, 2010 14:39:47 GMT -5
I would just pack everything in bankers boxes and put them in the garage. To deal with "later" or "when needed." But of course that's why my garage is stacked with bankers boxes 4 feet tall and 20 feet long against the wall. All of it is "later." If there's a flood, I'm done. Kinda hoping for a flood, actually.
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