So... where in the world do we start? How about with a list of documents and information that you need to locate. I call this "the paper chase" and we will do a bit of this each week as we proceed through the documents.

To make it easier, here is a pretty good list of things you'll need to locate. (And remember... not every document applies to you.)

Clean Up the List

First, I suggest that you print this list and then cross off anything that clearly does not apply to you. (For example, if you didn't serve in the military, you clearly don't have to worry about anything associated with the Veteran's Administration.)

Once you have eliminated the things that obviously don't apply to your life, you can use this list to keep tabs of the things you have located and the things that you still need to find in your files or on your computer.