Text guides

Paperwork and records

Organize documents and questions before you contact the organization that can actually change a record.

10 practical tasks. Each guide includes a sample request and a way to check the answer.

Turn application instructions into a checklistApplication instructions are written to be complete, which makes them hard to scan. Paste them in, and an assistant can reformat them into a checklist ordered by what to do first, with required and optional items kept apart.
Prepare documents for an administrative appointmentMany administrative appointments give you one chance, and a missing document can mean a wasted trip. Paste or describe the requirements from your appointment letter, and an assistant can turn them into a working checklist.
Compare two versions of a documentSpotting what changed between two versions of a document is tedious by eye and easy to get wrong. Paste both versions and say what you want compared, and an assistant can list differences in facts, dates, and wording for you to review.
Follow up on a document you requestedA good follow-up gives the recipient what they need to find your original request. Describe what you asked for, when, and why you need it, and an assistant can draft a message that is direct without being sharp.
Choose a naming system for scanned documentsA naming system pays off the first time you need a document in a hurry. Give an assistant your folder structure, the kinds of documents you scan most, and whether more than one person needs to find the files.
Turn receipts into an expense summarySummarizing receipts by hand is slow and easy to get wrong. List the merchant, date, amount, and currency for each receipt, and an assistant can produce a structured summary you can check against the originals.
Make an index of household recordsAn index of household records matters most to whoever has to find something when you are unavailable. Describe the documents your household keeps and where they live, and an assistant can help you organize that into a clear list.
Make a routine for sorting household mailMail piles up when the decision about each piece keeps getting put off. Tell an assistant your household size, the kinds of mail you get, and how often you want to sort, and it can suggest a routine that fits your actual week.
Draft a request to correct your name on a recordA name correction request works best when it states the exact error, the correct spelling, and your record involved. An assistant can draft the letter once you describe those details, and you send it yourself through the organization's official channel.
Organize receipts and warranty recordsA receipt matters most on the day something breaks. Give an assistant a rough list of your appliances and electronics, and it can design a log that points you to the actual warranty terms when you need them.

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