§ 67-8-418 — [Not applicable to decedents who die in 2016 or after, see section 67-8-425.] Safe deposit vaults

(a) No person engaged in the business of renting safe deposit vaults or other receptacles of similar character, shall rent any such vault or receptacle without first requiring all persons entitled to access thereto to agree in writing to notify the lessor of the death of any such person, and all persons having the right of access to any such safe deposit vault or receptacle upon the death of any other person having the right of access thereto, before seeking access, shall notify the lessor of the death of such person. (b) No lessor shall permit access to any safe deposit vault or receptacle by anyone after the death of any person who, at the time of death, had the right or privilege of access thereto, either as principal, deputy, agent, cotenant or otherwise, without notice to the commissioner. (c) At the time of opening any such vault or receptacle after the death of any person having the right of access thereto, the commissioner shall have the right to be present, in person or by representative, and to examine and inventory its contents. (d) Any violation of this section shall subject the violator to a penalty of five hundred dollars ($500) to be recovered by the commissioner for the benefit of the state in any court of competent jurisdiction. (e) This section shall not apply to any bank, savings bank, saving and loan association, or trust company subject to the procedures provided in title 45, chapter 2, part 9.

Legislative History

Acts 1929 (Ex. Sess.), ch. 29, § 5(2); Code 1932, § 1289; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 30-1632; Acts 1998, ch. 1085, § 3.