Need to Access a Safe Deposit Box? Here’s How to Claim What’s Inside

A safe deposit box can hold some of the most important items in your life: wills, jewelry, deeds, family heirlooms, and financial records. But when you actually need to claim the contents—whether it’s your own box, a shared one, or a deceased relative’s—questions and paperwork can quickly pile up.

Understanding the process ahead of time can help you avoid delays, extra fees, and even legal complications.

Step 1: Confirm Your Relationship to the Box

Before a bank releases anything, they must confirm who you are and what rights you have.

Common scenarios:

You are the renter of the box
- Bring valid photo ID (driver’s license, passport, etc.).
- Bring any key or access card linked to the box.
- The bank will verify your signature and access card on file.
You share the box (joint renters)
- Each renter may usually access the box independently, but rules vary.
- Some boxes are “and” (both must be present) vs. “or” (either can access).
- Ask the bank to clarify the access terms in your contract.
You’re claiming contents after someone’s death
- You’ll typically need:
  - A death certificate
  - Your ID
  - Proof of authority (e.g., executor papers, letters testamentary, or small estate affidavit)
- In some states, a court order is required before the bank can open the box.

If you’re not sure where you stand, call the bank’s estate or legal department and describe your situation. They handle these requests regularly.

Step 2: Gather Required Documentation

To claim contents from a safety deposit box smoothly, organize key documents first. You may need:

Government-issued photo ID
Box key (if the bank uses physical keys)
Rental agreement or any paperwork about the box, if you have it
Legal documents, such as:
- Power of attorney (for living renters who gave someone authority)
- Executor or administrator appointment (for deceased renters)
- Court orders or probate documents
- Trust documents, if a trust is listed as the renter

Important: A regular power of attorney usually expires at death. After the renter dies, the bank will often only work with the official estate representative or as directed by a probate court.

Step 3: Work With the Bank to Access the Box

Once your identity and authority are verified, the bank will schedule a time to access the box.

Here’s what typically happens:

You check in at the branch and present ID and documents.
A bank employee escorts you to the vault area.
You and the bank use their key and your key (if applicable) to open the box.
You’re taken to a private room where you can review the contents.

In estate or legal cases, some banks:

Require a bank employee or estate representative to be present while you inventory items.
Ask you to list and sign off on the contents.
May copy or seal certain legal papers (like wills) to deliver to a court or attorney.

Ask the bank ahead of time:

Whether appointments are required
If there are fees to drill a box, replace keys, or handle estate access
Whether you can photograph or scan documents on-site (many allow this)

Step 4: Claiming and Removing the Contents

Once inside, you’ll see everything stored in the box—sometimes more than expected. Handle this step carefully:

Inventory everything
- Make a written list of cash, jewelry, documents, titles, and certificates.
- Take photos for your records and for insurance purposes.
Prioritize essential documents
- Wills, trusts, powers of attorney
- Passports, birth/marriage certificates
- Property deeds, car titles, loan notes
- Insurance policies and important financial records
Understand ownership
- Joint renters typically both own the contents, but the law can be nuanced.
- In estate cases, items usually become part of the decedent’s estate, subject to debts, taxes, and distribution rules.

If there are valuable items (large amounts of cash, high-value jewelry, rare coins), consider:

An immediate inventory with the bank present
Contacting an attorney or financial advisor before distributing or selling items
Insuring high-value items once removed from the vault

Step 5: Handling Legal and Financial Follow-Up

Claiming the contents is only part of the process. What you do next can affect taxes, debts, and eligibility for aid programs.

For heirs and executors

If the box belonged to someone who passed away:

Items may need to be:
- Appraised for estate or inheritance tax purposes
- Used to pay outstanding debts or settle the estate
- Distributed according to a will, trust, or state intestacy laws

A probate or estate attorney can help you decide:

How to handle cash and investments found in the box
Whether you must report certain assets
How to avoid conflicts between family members and creditors

For your own financial stability

Sometimes, people open a relative’s box and find:

Old life insurance policies
Savings bonds or investment paperwork
Paid-off car titles or home deeds
Evidence of debts you didn’t know about

These discoveries can impact your broader financial picture. It may be a good time to explore:

Debt relief options if you’re inheriting an estate with heavy obligations
Government aid programs if taking on funeral costs, housing, or medical bills strains your budget
Credit counseling or consolidation if you’re juggling multiple debts while managing estate issues
Automotive title, insurance, or refinancing solutions if you find vehicle documents in the box

Step 6: Decide What to Do With the Box Going Forward

After claiming the contents, you have choices:

Keep renting the box
- Best if you still have important documents or valuables to store.
- Update authorized users and emergency contacts.
Close the box
- Empty all contents.
- Sign closure paperwork.
- Return keys to avoid extra fees.

As your financial life evolves—home ownership, starting a business, caring for aging parents—a safe deposit box can become part of a broader financial safety plan, along with proper insurance, emergency savings, and estate planning.