WHAT'S IN YOUR SAFE DEPOSIT BOX?

Eight Things You'll Want Under Lock and Key (and Three You Might Not)  

1. Copies of credit cards. Take all your credit and bank cards and lay them down on a copy machine or scanner. Then scan both sides of the cards. If the cards are lost or stolen, this inventory will make it easier to close the accounts. You may also want to make a list of the card issuers along with their phone numbers to call in case your cards are stolen. If you plan on keeping a copy of the issuer list and phone numbers at home, do not include your full account number or your PIN number on this list. Just list the issuer's name, phone number and the last four digits of your account number.
2. Stock Certificates, Share Certificates. These valuable documents deserve the protection of a Safe Deposit Box. If you have any stocks that were issued as paper certificates, consider having them held by your broker or better yet, turned into electronic shares, which are easier to process when it's time to sell.
3. Birth and Marriage Certificates. Keep the originals in your Safe Deposit Box. You don't need to access them very often, and when you do, you'll know where to find them.
4. Deeds and Title Certificates. Original property deeds for homes and title certificates for land or vehicles should all be kept under lock and key in your Safe Deposit Box. Be sure to note the lot numbers of any property you own to save a trip to the box to retrieve it.
5. Paper Bonds. If you have any paper savings bonds, keep them in your Safe Deposit Box, or better yet, have them converted to electronic bonds at www.savingsbonds.gov.
6. Original Life Insurance and Long Term Healthcare Policies. In most cases, keeping your original policy or policies in your Safe Deposit Box is best.
7. Valuables. Original negatives of valued photos, rare stamps, jewels and other collectibles are all candidates for inclusion in your Safe Deposit Box.
8. Home Inventory. Often overlooked is that your Safe Deposit Box should include an inventory of your home for insurance purposes. Videos or photos of your home and its contents can be invaluable in the case of theft or damage.

1. Original Will(s). Ideally, the person you name to oversee your financial matters after you die (most often an "executor" or "personal representative") should have access to your original will. Whether it is a good idea to keep your original will (or wills, in the case of couples) in your Safe Deposit Box largely depends on the laws of your state. Some states make it easy for family members, the executor, personal representative or co­-renters of the Safe Deposit Box, to remove your will, life insurance policy, burial instructions and other important documents. Other states may require a court order to access these documents. It is best to check with your financial institution about their particular policy and those of the state. Coast Line Credit Union will require a court order to access these documents.
2. Passports. If you have relatives outside the country and there is a chance you will have to take an emergency trip, it is best to keep your passport(s) at home.
3. Original Medical and Non-Medical Power of Attorney Documents. These and other documents pertaining to what should be done if you become ill or incapacitated (medical directives) should ideally be left in the hands of your attorney. It is a good idea to make copies of these documents for your Safe Deposit Box and for a close friend or relative.