Finally, even if you discover that the certificate has no investment value, it might be worth something as a collectible. You can also try your broker or the relevant state agency that handles incorporations. The Securities and Exchange Commission recommends contacting the transfer agent listed on the certificate for information. The security could be worth more than you think if the stock later split or the original corporation merged with a bigger company. This is especially true if you don’t recognize the name of the corporation on the certificate. If you have any of your own or receive any as an inheritance, secure them in your safe deposit box until you can determine the actual value. Some paper certificates, many of which are intricately engraved, and sometimes, works of art, are still floating around. Include IRS Form 8888 with your tax return to request the paper savings bonds. In a twist, however, you can use your federal tax refund to purchase paper Series I U.S. The New York Stock Exchange eliminated its requirement for physical certificates in 2001, and paper savings bonds haven’t been available from banks since 2011. Stock and bond ownership bookkeeping and transactions is handled electronically these days, but there was a time in the not-too-long-ago when actual paper certificates were issued to investors. Expedited delivery through a third-party service called VitalChek is an option, but you'll pay a surcharge (it varies) per certified record, including service fee add on the cost of what the state charges you as well as shipping fees. Virginia, for example, charges $12 per certified record (versus $34 in California and $53 in New York), and it can take weeks to receive the document by mail. You’ll also need to provide proof that you are entitled to copies. Government agencies typically can issue certified copies of vital records, but it’ll cost you time, money and a lot of frustration. Ditto for adoption-related documents in particular, birth certificates from an overseas adoption are extremely difficult to replace if lost or destroyed. These include birth certificates, death certificates, marriage certificates and divorce certificates. Vital records that are rarely needed but a hassle to replace are prime candidates for your safe deposit box. Situations like that complicate your ability to retrieve important documents or items when you need them.īirth, marriage, divorce and death certificates For example, the coronavirus pandemic reduced operating hours for some bank branches, and limited access or required appointments for in-branch services, such as access to safe deposit boxes. On the other hand, access to your safe deposit box can be limited, more so during emergencies. Home safes are more susceptible to fire and water damage, not to mention theft, than bank safe deposit boxes, Reynolds said. Plus, some valuables simply can’t be digitized.Ī safe installed in your home is one alternative, but these devices aren't foolproof, said Luke Reynolds, chief of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s Outreach & Program Development Section. There likely will be times when you’ll need to be able to produce certain original documents (including ones that have a raised seal) rather than digital scans or photocopies. Don’t rush to declare the safe deposit box a relic of the past just yet, though many banks are eliminating them (in some communities, private enterprise is stepping in).
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