Do I need a safe deposit box?

A safe deposit box is useful for the following items:

• Original birth certificates, adoption papers, marriage licenses, and citizenship papers.
• Copies – but not the only copies – of wills and powers of attorney
• Military records and discharge papers (DD-214)
• School transcripts and diplomas
• Sensitive documents you wouldn’t want roommates, children, relatives, and visitors to find
• The deed to your house, car titles
• Paper stock and bond certificates (issued electronically these days) including savings bonds
• An inventory of your home’s contents, if you need to file a claim on home owner’s insurance policy
• Important business papers, records, and contracts
• Hard drives, flash drives with backups and important data
• Financially or sentimentally valuable jewelry, collectibles, and family keepsakes
• Other documents or small items that would be difficult or impossible to replace