Safety Deposit Boxes

With digital records, safe deposit boxes are so 20th Century. Right? Not necessarily. You may have situations in which you’ll be asked to produce original documents (including those with raised seals). Not to mention valuables that can’t be digitized. Items to keep in your box:

• Social Security cards


• Birth, marriage, divorce, and death certificates


• Paper stock and bond certificates


• Collectibles and not-often used jewelry (make sure they’re insured, as neither the FDIC nor banks insure box items)


• Insurance home inventory


• Property records


• Home improvement records and receipts


• Car titles

Generally, financial professionals recommend a bank safe deposit box over a home one.