How To Find A Deceased Person's Safety Deposit Box

How to Access a Safe Deposit Box Upon Death Image

How to Access a Safety Deposit Box Upon Death

Thursday, November 01, 2018

Admission to a safe deposit box upon death can be accomplished in a number of ways. Unremarkably, documents such as a will, insurance policies, and burial plan documents may be independent in the contents of a safety deposit box. Access to the condom deposit box documents may be accomplished in a number of ways; unfortunately, some of the methods may take time and delay other post death activities and decisions. This article explores various methods to obtain admission to a safe eolith box

The easiest and quickest way to allow someone access to a condom eolith box is to provide access to that individual through the rental contract with the condom deposit box holder. This can be achieved past having the individual provide a signature card and either providing them with a duplicate key or access to the location where the key is kept. The downside to providing this type of access to an individual is that the access is non express to after death. Therefore, if the private is provided with a key and permitted access to the safe deposit box they can access the box prior to fourth dimension of decease and prior to when the safe deposit box renter may intend for them to have access to the box. Some safe deposit box holders permit designation of a successor upon death.

In Minnesota for estates with full avails of less than $75,000.00 an affidavit of collection tin can be used to admission the safe deposit box. The affidavit of drove of personal property can exist used if the person is a blood relative to the person who died (known every bit the decedent), or has a legal involvement in the decedent'due south holding. To use the affidavit of collection the total value of all belongings where always located minus whatsoever liens and encumbrances on the property most non be greater than $75,000.00. The affidavit tin be used whether or non the person who died had a Will. The safe eolith box must be listed only in the name of the person who died. The draw back to this method is the limitation on the value of the total manor and the fact that the affidavit cannot be used until thirty days have passed from the engagement of expiry. The affidavit is a simple 1 page form and nigh exist presented to the holder of the rubber deposit box forth with a certified copy of the death document of the decedent.

A third method of accessing a safety deposit box is to nowadays the holder of the safety deposit box with an affidavit in support of search. This affidavit can be used solely to admission the safe deposit box and while copies of certain documents tin be obtained the method does not allow the user to obtain the originals of any materials inside the box. The affidavit tin can exist used to search contents of the box for such things as a will, burying plan, funeral insurance, a deed to a burying lot, or documents containing burial instructions. The affidavit may be used by a person named a personal representative in a volition, a person who immediately prior to the death had the right of access to the box, a surviving spouse, a beneficiary under the will, an heir of the person who died if there is no will, or a person who is designated by the person who died in a writing provided to the safety deposit box holder prior to death.

If the affidavit in support of search is used, the holder of the safe deposit box will open it in the presence of the person presenting the affidavit. If a volition is present, it may be copied and the original will be delivered to the courtroom administrator of the county where the decedent lived. Copies of cemetery deeds or other burial documents can be photocopied also. Other documents or items in the safe deposit box will be inventoried and the inventory provided to the county where decedent resided at the time of decease. The affidavit in back up of search requires evidence of the decease which typically consists of a expiry certificate or statement in the lieu of decease which can be provided by the funeral home while waiting for the death certificate to be issued if admission is needed prior to the issue of the decease certificate.

An additional method for access to a prophylactic eolith box is for the executor or personal representative of an estate to present letters testamentary or letters of general assistants issued by the court to the holder of the safe eolith box. This method requires petitioning the court to take someone appointed as the personal representative or executor of the decedent. If a petition is filed informally, information technology volition typically have vi weeks to ii months to be appointed. A formal petition can be filed in lodge to attempt to expedite the appointment, however, this likewise may take a number of weeks equally observe and publication is required.

Accessing documents in a prophylactic deposit box tin take some time later on the decease of an individual if appropriate pre-decease planning is not undertaken. Equally with all estate planning activities, appropriate communication to those appointed to take intendance of your affairs later on your death should be undertaken then that survivors know where to look for important documents and materials and how to access that information.

This information is general in nature and should not be construed as tax or legal advice.