Preparing Your Home and Estate Plan for a Fire

When disaster strikes, like the recent fires that have destroyed parts of Los Angeles, being prepared can make all the difference. Wildfires are becoming more common in California. They often start suddenly and spread quickly, leaving residents little time to gather belongings and critical documents. In this blog post, we’ll share tips on preparing your home and estate plan for a fire to ensure they’re protected and provide peace of mind for you and your loved ones.

Safeguard Your Home

First, here are four tips for protecting your home from a fire.

Secure Insurance:

• Obtain homeowners’ or renters’ insurance. Regularly review your policy to ensure it includes adequate coverage for your current home and belongings in case of fire damage.
• Take photos and/or videos of your possessions and upload them to a secure cloud storage service like Google Photos. If a fire destroys your home, this documentation will make any insurance claims easier to process.

Create Defensible Space:

• Clear vegetation, dead leaves, and flammable materials from around your home.
• Maintain a 30-foot zone of fire-resistant landscaping and at least 100 feet of defensible space if you live in a wildfire-prone area.

Fireproof Your Home:

• Install fire-resistant roofing and siding materials.
• Seal gaps in eaves, vents, and soffits to prevent embers from entering your home.
• Use tempered glass or fire-resistant shutters for windows.

Install Safety Systems:

• Equip your home with smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, and sprinkler systems.
• Create and practice an evacuation plan with your family.

Protect Your Estate Planning Documents

Next, let’s focus on how to keep your estate planning documents safe in the event of a fire. 

Store Documents Securely:

• Original wills must be lodged with the probate court when someone passes away. Some estate planning attorneys retain original wills and store them in a fireproof storage facility to keep them safe.
• Use a fireproof and waterproof safe to store any estate planning documents, especially originals, such as wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and deeds. Alternatively, you can store these documents in a safety deposit box at a bank.
• Consider storing digital copies in a secure cloud storage service or encrypted USB drive.
• If your personal copy of the documents is destroyed in a fire, ask the attorney who prepared the documents to send you a copy of your documents. 

Communicate with Loved Ones:

• Ensure your estate planning attorney and executor/successor trustee have up-to-date contact details for you and your family members.
• Inform family members about your estate plan and emergency procedures.
• Designate a meeting point and primary contact in case of evacuation.

Create a “Grab-and-Go” Emergency Kit

Include the following in your emergency kit:

• Copies of your estate planning documents.
• A list of passwords for digital accounts (stored securely).
• Identification documents like passports and birth certificates.
• Emergency contact information and medical records.
• Insurance policies and an inventory of valuable possessions (photos or videos work well).

Store your kit in an easily accessible location, and ensure all family members know where to find it.

Seek Legal Counsel

You never know when disaster may strike. Schedule regular reviews of your estate plan with your estate planning attorney to ensure it reflects your current wishes and circumstances. 

Preparing your home and estate planning documents for a fire is a crucial part of disaster preparedness. By taking these steps now, you can protect your family’s safety and financial future, even in the face of an unforeseen crisis. Remember, it’s always better to prepare for the unexpected than to be caught off guard. If you have any questions about preparing your home and estate plan for a fire, feel free to contact our law firm. 

Law Offices of Daniel A. Hunt

The Law Offices of Daniel A. Hunt is a California law firm specializing in Estate Planning; Trust Administration & Litigation; Probate; and Conservatorships. We've helped over 10,000 clients find peace of mind. We serve clients throughout the greater Sacramento region and the state of California.