What to Keep in Your Safe Deposit Box

Here is the acid test for what you should store in your safe deposit box according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC): Would you be in deep trouble without this item? If the answer is yes, it goes in the box.

Staying out of “deep trouble” by storing your valuables at a bank is relatively affordable. Depending on the size of the safe deposit box, and on your bank, a year’s rental will cost from $25 to $90.

Put original documents in the box and keep photocopies at home so you’ll be able to get to them quickly if necessary.

1. Estate planning documents: wills, trusts, powers of attorney. Talk to an attorney about whether the original or a copy of these documents should be kept in your safe deposit box. The answer will depend on what your state law says about who (if anyone) will have immediate access to your safe deposit box after your death.

2. Deed to your house and any other property, including burial plot at cemetery.

3. Vehicle titles.

4. Birth, marriage, death certificates; military records, adoption, custody, divorce, legal change of name, and citizenship papers.

5. Complete home inventory, including appraisals, receipts, and photographs or videos of all your insured items.

6. Stock certificates, savings bonds, and other securities.

7. Diplomas and transcripts.

8. Extremely precious jewelry, coins, stamps, or other valuable collections