I have a BOA Safe Deposit Box (haha nothing in it!) and No One, even if I die, is allowed access...unless later, by an executor of my will, possibly. So No Way would BOA have allowed someone access to SS's Safe Deposit Box ...
bbm
I'm puzzled by some of this post. If you have a valid will at time of your death, one of your executor's legal duties is
locating all your property. Your safe deposit box may hold your property, such as precious metals; cash; jewelry, stock or bond certificates (not so common as yrs back, still poss); collectibles of value; family mementos/heirlooms; etc. Executor is also obligated to
distrib property per your will's instructions, subject to probate ct supervision. (If no valid will at time of death, a slightly diff process & diff terms, same idea).
Not sure
why you say nobody would have access,except executor
, "possibly." I'm confused about "possibly."
After your death, once executor is aware of SDB existence, s/he is obligated to go to BoA (maybe w ct order and/or other docs), open box to inventory assets or to verify as empty.
As of this moment/today, BoA is clueless as to whether your SDB is empty or has $1,000,000+ US currency & the Hope Diamond in it. Who knows what you may put in box in next 1, 10, or 30 yrs, pre-death? 30 yrs from now, if you are living, bk will still be clueless about box contents. As long as (usu annual) fee is paid on SDB and bk is not notified of death, agreeing w your post, no access for anyone but you (and your designated signatory/ies, if any).
Post-death access to SDB - if your executor fails to locate your SDB, does not open, does not make it pt of probate process and years pass - do you think - despite
SDB fee being unpaid for years after your death, a bk will say "no prob, just fine, no need to collect fee" and will
fail to follow state's unclaimed property act or state escheat statute? Respectfully, no sarc.
https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Uniform_Unclaimed_Property_Act&action=edit&redlink=1
http://www.missingmoney.com/ "MissingMoney.com is a database of governmental unclaimed property records. Common types of unclaimed property include: Bank accounts and safe deposit box contents."
You may wish to consider consulting atty who drafted and oversaw signing, witnessing, etc. of your will, for clarification. Or not. IANAL and don't play one on TV or WebSleuths. JM2cts and could be all wrong.
Hoping anyone w more definitive info & knowledge will chime in.