Having a 'paperless' trail with scanned evidence is what I meant to do. Most of what I have I know I can get duplicates for, like marrage or death certificates. The things that I consider important, like the geneology made by my grandmother, got scanned along side the other things. I always scan copies of my tax returns. Something I caught from my Father, in reverse... (too long, just let's say he should have)

What papers cannot be redone? I know I can get new birth/marrage/death certificates. I know I can get new SS and ID's. My taxes are handled by an accountant and he has copies. I don't have a mortgage and for the rental I have for my business, they have copies of all the lease agreements. I have a broker for the few stocks and bonds I have, so those aren't even in the house. I think the only things I cannot reproduce easily are the family oriented things.

What papers do other people deem important enough to keep in a box? (fireproof and metal though it may be, it is still a box!)

Rena

I keep some stuff like my birth certificate in a safe deposit box, not so much because it's irreplaceable, but so that I know where it is instead of letting it get lost shuffling around the house somewhere.

I also keep some of my computer backups there, so if the house gets swept off in a hurricane or whatever, I still have the data.