Financial Aid | Columbia Law School

Record Keeping

Keeping accurate and complete records of your financial activities is extremely important in helping you manage your loans and achieve your financial goals. Financial documents that should be kept in a secure and accessible file include:

• Loan applications
• Promissory notes
• Disclosure statements
• Notices from your lenders/holders/servicers/loan providers
• Copies of all written communications (including email), and a log of  telephone conversations
• Income tax returns (federal and state)
• Financial aid forms and award letters

This file will be invaluable to you while you are in school, and especially as you enter repayment. Be aware that some student loans are often sold by one lender to another, and you need to keep track of the holder of your loans at all times. 

The Federal Direct Loan Program provides customer service for borrowers through the Direct Loan Servicing Center. The Direct Loan Servicing Online website is available to borrowers, as is telephone access (800-848-0979).

It is your responsibility to manage your loan payments, and to know the terms and amounts of your loans, as well as who are your lenders/holders/servicers. In addition, you are required by law to always keep them informed of your current contact information (name, address, telephone).