Accessing a Deceased Person's Safe Deposit Box

A deceased person's safe deposit box may contain some of the most important documents in the estate — the will, life insurance policies, property deeds, jewelry, and other valuables. Getting access to it requires navigating bank policies and state law, which varies more than most people expect. Here's how to access a safe deposit box after a death.

Why Safe Deposit Box Access Is Complicated

Banks take safe deposit box security seriously — they typically require proof of authorization before allowing anyone to open a box. After a death, the bank needs to balance two things: allowing authorized persons to access the estate's property, and preventing unauthorized access to the contents.

State law governs the specific rules for post-death box access, and there are significant variations. The general trend is toward more family-friendly access rules, but you should confirm your state's specific requirements.

Scenario 1: You're a Joint Box Holder

If you were listed as a co-renter of the safe deposit box (not just an authorized deputy), you typically have the same access rights as the primary renter. Bring your key, your ID, and a death certificate to the bank. The bank should allow you access to inventory and remove the contents — though they may note that the estate's heirs have claims to the contents.

Scenario 2: You're the Executor with Letters Testamentary

Once you've been formally appointed executor and have letters testamentary from the probate court, you have authority to access the estate's assets — including the safe deposit box. Present the letters testamentary, the death certificate, and your ID to the bank.

This is the most straightforward path for sole boxes — but it requires probate to have been opened first, which can take weeks or months after the death.

Scenario 3: You Need Access Before Probate to Find the Will

This creates a chicken-and-egg problem: you need the will to open probate, but the will is locked in the safe deposit box, and you need probate authority to open the box. Most states have solved this with specific rules allowing limited pre-probate access to locate a will.

Most state laws allow the following people to access a deceased person's safe deposit box before probate to search for a will, burial instructions, or both:

• The next of kin (spouse, adult children, parents)
• Any person named in the deceased's last known will as executor or beneficiary
• In some states, any person with a key to the box

The access is typically limited: a bank officer is present, an inventory is made, and only the will (and sometimes burial instructions) may be removed. Everything else must remain until proper probate authority is established.

What to Bring to the Bank

Regardless of your access scenario, bring:

• The safe deposit box key (if you have it)
• Certified copy of the death certificate
• Your government-issued photo ID
• Documentation of your relationship (marriage certificate, birth certificate if a child) or authority (letters testamentary)

If You Don't Have the Key

If the key can't be found:

• The bank can drill the box (in the presence of an authorized person) to allow access. There is typically a fee ($150–$300) for drilling.
• A locksmith experienced in safe deposit boxes can also drill — the bank may arrange this or you may need to bring one yourself

Inventorying the Contents

When you access the box, carefully inventory everything inside. Take photos before removing anything. Create a written list of every item found. This protects against any subsequent claims that items were in the box and went missing.

Common items found in safe deposit boxes:

• Original will and trust documents
• Life insurance policies
• Property deeds and vehicle titles
• Passports and birth certificates
• Jewelry and valuables
• Stock certificates (older paper certificates)
• Cash
• Military discharge papers (DD-214)

Cancel the Safe Deposit Box Rental

Once the contents are retrieved and the estate is settled, cancel the safe deposit box rental to stop the ongoing annual fee. The executor can do this with their estate authority.

For the complete document-finding guide, see our searching for documents guide. For what to do once you've found the will, see our article on where to find a will and what to do with it.