1. A. A lessor shall permit the person named in a court order for the purpose or, if no order has been served upon the lessor, the spouse, a parent, an adult descendant or a person named as an executor in a copy of a purported will produced by him, to open and examine the contents of a safe deposit box leased by a decedent or any documents delivered by a decedent for safekeeping, in the presence of an officer of the lessor. The lessor, if so requested by such person and upon execution of a receipt, may deliver:

   1. (1) to the person making the request, any writing purporting to be a will of the decedent;
   2. (2) to the person making the request, any writing purporting to be a deed to a burial plot or to give burial instructions; and
   3. (3) to the beneficiary named in the policy, any document purporting to be an insurance policy on the decedent's life.
2. B. No other contents shall be removed pursuant to this section except at the lessor's liability until a special administrator, an administrator or executor qualifies and makes claim to the contents.

History: 1953 Comp., § 48-15-148, enacted by Laws 1971, ch. 242, § 8.

ANNOTATIONS

Am. Jur. 2d, A.L.R. and C.J.S. references. — 10 Am. Jur. 2d Banks § 484.