With identity theft on the rise, now more than ever you need to protect your personal information. Come out to Shred Fest this Saturday.

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If you have a ton of old bills, bank statements, income tax papers or any other important paperwork that contains sensitive information like account numbers etc., come out the the Shred Fest this Saturday April 20th.  The event is absolutely free and individuals as well as businesses can bring up to three boxes of records for destruction.

Shred Fest is going to take place from 9 a.m. to noon this Saturday April 20th behind Pier 1 at Prien Lake Mall.  So come out and dispose of your dated documents.

If your not sure what to bring, personal records to gather up include bank statements, old bills and other financial or tax records.

Here's a guide on how long you should keep important paperwork and when to get rid of it:

Automobile records (titles, registration, repairs)—As long as you own the vehicle(s) —1 to 10 years, depending on your comfort level


Bank statements
—Maximum six years if needed for tax purposes

Credit card statements
—Maximum six years if tax-related purchases on statements; otherwise, until annual interest statement is issued by company

Calendars (past)
—According to your comfort level and whether you use them for reference or memorabilia   Catalogs and magazines—Until the next issue

Dividend payment records
—Until an annual statement is supplied by company, then just only annual statements

Household inventory and appraisal
—As long as current

Insurance policies (auto, homeowners, liability)
—As long as the statute of limitations runs in the event of late claims

Insurance policies
(disability, medical, life, personal property, umbrella)—As long as you own it

Investments (purchase records)
—As long as you own them

Investments (sales records)
—Maximum six years for tax purposes

Mortgage or loan discharge
—As long as you own, or six years after discharge  

Appliances—As long as you own the item
Art, antiques, collectibles—As long as you own the item
Credit card slips—Until your statement comes and you can match purchases

Household repairs—For life of warranty, or longer to reference reliability record of service people and their rates

Major purchases—For the life of the item

Medical and tax-related—Maximum of six years

Rent—Your canceled check is sufficient

Utility bills—Your current bill and one previous year's to check billing patterns

Warranties and instructions—For the life of warranty or the item. Stick label with warranty expiration date and service repair number on bottom of appliance. If something breaks down, you've got an easy way to check if the item's still covered without even having to go to your file drawer.

Property bill of purchase—As long as you own the property
Tax records (bank statements and canceled checks, certificates of deposit, contracts, charitable contributions, credit statements, income tax returns, lease and loan agreements, loan payment books, pension plan records, pay stubs)—The current year, plus six prior years
Vital Records (Adoption papers, birth & death certificates, citizenship papers, copyrights/patents, marriage certificate, divorce decree, letter of "Last Instructions" to executor or heirs, medical illness and vaccination records, passports, Power of Attorney, Social Security records, Wills)Permanently

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