§ 9-1504 — Death of lessee or lessees in joint tenancy; opening of box; disposition of contents

(a) In the event the sole lessee or all lessees in joint tenancy named in the lease agreement covering a safe deposit box rental shall die, the safe deposit box may be opened, forcibly if necessary, at any time thereafter, in the presence of persons holding a legal or beneficial interest relating to the lessee, by two employees of the lessor, one of whom shall be an officer of the lessor. The contents shall be disposed of as follows:
(1) Instruments of a testamentary nature may be removed by the named executor. If no executor is named or if the named executor fails to act within 60 days after the date of death of the lessee, such employees may remove all instruments of a testamentary nature and deposit the same with the district court.
(2) The employees in their discretion may deliver life insurance policies therein contained to the beneficiaries named in such policies, and any deed to a cemetery lot and any burial instructions found therein to the appropriate parties.
(3) Any and all other contents of such box so opened shall be kept and retained by the bank, trust company or safe deposit company and shall be delivered only to the parties legally entitled to the same.
(b) In the event no person claims to be interested in the contents of such box within 60 days after the death of the lessee, the lessor may open the box by forcible entry and remove all instruments of a testamentary nature and deposit the same with the district court, subject to payment of rentals, expenses and repairs. Any and all other contents of such box so opened shall be kept and retained by the bank or trust company and shall be delivered only to the parties legally entitled to the same.

Legislative History

L. 1947, ch. 102, § 73; L. 1975, ch. 44, § 25; L. 1976, ch. 145, § 35; L. 1994, ch. 192, § 1; L. 1997, ch. 7, § 1; L. 2015, ch. 38, § 86; L. 2016, ch. 54, § 38; July 1.