Some of your important documents are best kept in a safe deposit box. These are the papers you don't often need to refer to and are difficult to replace: military discharge papers, stock and bond certificates, original copies of birth, marriage, and death certificates, adoption, divorce and child custody papers, and the deed to your house. Others, such as your will and life insurance policies, should never be kept in a safe deposit box, which might be sealed at the time of death. For safe keeping, however, put copies of these documents in your safe deposit box. Photographs and/or a video tape of your home's contents, and a written home inventory, should also be kept there.

Safe deposit boxes are also ideal for storing small family heirlooms that cannot be replaced and other items of value, such as gold coins or valuable collections. If you do not want to keep some valuable items in your box, consider insuring them with a special rider on your homeowner's insurance policy. The cost is nominal.

Discipline yourself by using a small notebook to make an inventory list of what you put in your box and keep the notebook with your keys at home in a safe place. Each time you go to your safe deposit box, take the notebook with you. If you put something in or take something out, record doing so in your notebook. You might also want a photocopy of all the important papers in the box in case you want to refer to them at home.

Boxes can be rented at most banks. Only the persons whom you designate can have access to your box. Safe deposit boxes are safe from theft and fire, but they may not be safe from water damage from floods.