How long should you keep a deceased person's tax returns?

Keep at least 7 years of tax returns from the date the final return was filed. The IRS can audit returns for up to 3 years after filing (6 years if income was underreported by 25% or more), and there's no statute of limitations on fraud. Since you won't know if issues exist, 7 years is the safe minimum. Some estate attorneys recommend keeping them permanently.

Can I throw away a deceased person's medical records?

Keep medical records for at least 3 years after the estate is settled, especially if there are pending insurance claims, malpractice concerns, or VA benefits. If the deceased had a chronic condition or a history that genetic family members might need, consider keeping those records longer. Otherwise, shred them after the 3-year mark.

Should I keep a deceased person's bank statements?

Keep bank statements for 7 years from the date the final tax return is filed. They may be needed to verify estate transactions, support tax filings, or resolve disputes. After 7 years, you can safely shred them — but keep any statements that document large transfers, property purchases, or gifts, as these may be relevant to estate or gift tax questions.

📂 CareTabs Blog

How Long Should You Keep a Deceased Person’s Documents?

🗄️ What to keep forever, what to keep for 7 years, and what you can finally shred — the complete retention guide.

✍️ By the CareTabs Team 🕐 7 min read 📅 June 2026

You’re standing in front of boxes of your parent’s paperwork — tax returns from 2009, utility bills from three addresses ago, insurance policies that might be active or might have expired years ago. What do you keep? What can you throw away? What happens if you shred something you needed?

It’s one of the most practical questions families face after a death, and there’s surprisingly little clear guidance out there. Different documents have different retention periods, and the consequences of discarding something too early range from “mildly inconvenient” to “very expensive.”

Here’s the complete guide — organized by how long you need to keep each type of document.

♾️ Keep Forever

These documents have no expiration date. They may be needed years or even decades from now — for property disputes, inheritance questions, family history, or legal proceedings.

📜 Death certificate — Keep multiple certified copies. You’ll need them for insurance claims, account closures, property transfers, and legal proceedings. Order at least 10–15 from the vital records office.

📜 Will and trust documents — The original will should be filed with the probate court. Keep copies for your records permanently.

📜 Birth certificate — Useful for genealogical records and may be needed to resolve identity or inheritance questions.

📜 Marriage certificate / divorce decree — May affect survivor benefits, pension rights, and property ownership.

📜 Military discharge papers (DD-214) — Required for VA benefits, burial in a national cemetery, and dependent benefits. Irreplaceable if lost.

📜 Property deeds and titles — Keep for as long as the property is owned by any family member. Even after a sale, keep for at least 7 years.

📜 Life insurance policies — Keep until all claims are fully settled and paid. Some policies have contestability windows of 2 years.

📜 Social Security card / number — Keep securely. You’ll need the SSN for the final tax return, estate filings, and account closures.

📜 Probate court documents — Letters testamentary, court orders, final accounting — all permanent records.

📅 Keep for 7 Years (From Date of Final Tax Filing)

The IRS can audit a return for 3 years after filing — or 6 years if income was underreported by more than 25%. Since you may not know if issues exist, the safe standard is 7 years from when the final tax return was filed.

📋 Tax returns — At least 7 years of federal and state returns, plus all supporting documents (W-2s, 1099s, charitable donation receipts)

📋 Bank statements — Needed to verify estate transactions, support tax filings, and resolve disputes

📋 Investment statements — Brokerage, 401(k), IRA statements showing cost basis and capital gains

📋 Business records — If the deceased owned a business, keep all financial records for 7 years minimum

📋 Loan documents — Keep until 7 years after the loan is fully paid off and closed

📋 Records of large gifts — Gift tax returns and documentation of significant transfers

💡 When does the clock start? For tax-related documents, the 7-year window begins on the date the final tax return was filed (or the filing deadline, whichever is later) — not the date of death. The final return (Form 1040) covers income from January 1 to the date of death. The estate return (Form 1041) may continue for 1–2 years after.

📅 Keep for 3 Years (After Estate Is Settled)

These documents may be needed during probate or to resolve outstanding claims, but generally lose their relevance once the estate is fully settled.

📋 Medical records and bills — Keep until all insurance claims are resolved and any statute of limitations on malpractice or billing disputes has passed

📋 Health insurance statements (EOBs) — Keep for 3 years in case of billing disputes or audit

📋 Credit card statements — Keep until all accounts are closed and all estate claims are resolved

📋 Auto insurance and vehicle records — Keep until the vehicle is sold or transferred and any claims are settled

📋 Homeowner’s insurance records — Keep until the property is sold and any claims are settled

📅 Keep for 1 Year or Less

📋 Utility bills — Keep the final bills until service is confirmed closed, then shred (unless needed for tax purposes)

📋 Pay stubs — Keep until you’ve verified they match the final W-2, then shred

📋 Canceled checks — Keep only those related to tax deductions, major purchases, or estate transactions

📋 Receipts — Keep only those needed for warranties, tax deductions, or estate accounting

🗑️ Safe to Shred Right Away

These documents generally have no legal or financial value after the estate is settled:

🗑️ Junk mail and solicitations

🗑️ Expired coupons and warranties (for items no longer owned)

🗑️ Old manuals and instruction booklets

🗑️ Duplicate copies of any document you already have the original of

🗑️ Old calendars and planners (unless they contain important notes)

🗑️ Magazines and newsletters

When in doubt, don’t shred. It costs almost nothing to store a document for another year, but it can cost a lot to realize you needed something you already destroyed.

🔒 How to Shred Safely

Any document containing personal information — Social Security numbers, account numbers, medical data, or financial details — should be shredded, not just thrown in the trash. Identity thieves specifically target the recently deceased because nobody is monitoring their credit.

🏠

At Home

Use a cross-cut shredder (not strip-cut, which can be reassembled). For large volumes, many office supply stores offer shredding services by the pound.

🏢

Community Events

Many communities host free shredding events, often at libraries, banks, or senior centers. Check your local listings — these can handle boxes of documents at once.

📁 The Easier Way: Digitize and Store Securely

Here’s the real-world problem with paper: it takes up space, it’s hard to organize, and it’s vulnerable to fire, flood, and loss. The documents you need to keep for 7+ years take up boxes. And the documents you need to keep forever? Those need to survive decades.

Scanning and digitizing your critical documents — then storing them in an encrypted vault — solves every retention problem at once. Digital copies don’t take up physical space, can’t burn, and can be shared with the people who need access. You can tag each document with a retention date and set reminders to review and purge when the time comes.

Store Your Family’s Important Documents in One Secure Vault

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Upload, organize, and share critical documents with family members who need access. Encrypted, searchable, and always available. Your first vault is free.