If You Jointly Leased the Safe Deposit Box with Decedent: Mail or delivery a copy of the will to the executor and beneficiaries named in the will.Give the will(s) to the clerk of the superior court, and.If you do find any wills in the safe deposit box, you are required to: Be aware that the bank may charge you for photocopying the documents. If you do remove any wills or trusts instruments from the box, the bank will make photocopies of the documents and keep the photocopy in the safe deposit box until the personal representative of the estate removes the contents of the box. You may remove any wills, trusts, and instructions for the disposition of the decedent’s remains from the safe deposit box, but not any other items. The bank will then allow you to make inventory of its contents under the supervision of an officer or employee. Once you have provided these items, the financial institution will grant you access to the safe deposit box. Reasonable proof of your own identity (your driver’s license, for example).Either (a) the decedent’s death certificate or (b) a written statement of death from the coroner, treating physician, or hospital/institution where the decedent died, and.

However, the decedent’s estate will bear cost for drilling or otherwise opening the box. You can inspect the safe deposit box and remove any will or instructions for disposition of the decedent’s remains.

If you do not have the key and you are the public administrator, you can access the safe deposit box free of charge, without a written certification, without a death certificate, without a court order, and without letters issued.

If you do not have the key and you are not the public administrator, you must obtain letters from the court to access the box.

If the decedent held a safe deposit box in their sole name and the letters have not been distributed you may be able to access its contents. If the Decedent Held the Safe Deposit Box in Their Sole Name: This post intends to give you the knowledge of what to expect, how to prepare, and how to navigate the process efficiently. The safe deposit box may also contain instructions for disposition of remains, which are needed immediately so that the decedent’s wishes may be carried out. Accessing safe deposit boxes soon after the death of a loved one is crucial because they may contain important documents, such as wills and trusts. If your loved one has recently passed away, the last thing you want to deal with is the hassle of figuring out how to access their safe deposit box. How To Access a Decedent’s Safe Deposit Box in California

Research and contribution by Victoria Koenitzer From the desk of San Diego Probate Lawyer, Kristina R.

Chase bank safe deposit box procedures