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identification you have. Also, while many banks issue two keys when a box is rented, simply giving someone else a key doesn’t allow that person access to a box in an emergency. He or she also must be designated in the bank’s records as a joint renter or be appointed a “deputy” or “agent” who has access to your box. Contact your bank about the proper arrangements.
What to Keep Where
After you’ve gathered your most important financial items and documents, protect them as well as you can, while also ensuring you have access to them in an emergency. Here’s a reasonable strategy for many people:
Make backup copies of important documents. You’ll want duplicates for yourself, but also consider giving copies to loved ones or at least let them know where to find your records in an emergency. You can make copies the old-fashioned way. But a more efficient option is to scan them onto disks, which can hold significant amounts of images and are easy to store or send to others. Also, because a disaster can cover a wide area, it’s a good idea to store backups away from your home, perhaps as far away as another state.
Determine what to keep at home and what to store in a safe deposit box at your bank. A safe deposit box is best for protecting certain papers that could be difficult or impossible to replace but are not anything you might need to access quickly. What should you put in a safe deposit box? Examples include a birth certificate and originals of important contracts. What’s better left safely at home, preferably in a durable, fireproof safe? Your passport and medical-care directives come to mind because you might need these on short notice. Consult your attorney before putting an original will in a safe deposit box. That's because a few states do not permit immediate access to a safe deposit box after a person dies, so there may be complications accessing a will in a box.
When Disaster Happens