[WSBAPT] Estate access to co-owned safe deposit box

[Jeff at bellanddavispllc.com]

Eric,

 

I feel your pain.  If possible, try talking with the branch manager.  The PR
has a right to collect the decedent's stuff, including what's in the bank
box.  The other option is trying to find an outside counsel for Chase, who
you can lead you to the right in-house counsel to resolve the matter.  I am
not sure how you get a court order to require the bank to give you access.
I guess you could serve the bank manager with the motion for an order
requiring the bank to provide access; and ask for terms.

 

Jeff

 

W. Jeff Davis

BELL & DAVIS PLLC

Attorneys at Law
P.O. Box 510

720 E. Washington Street, Suite 105
Sequim WA 98382
Phone: (360) 683.1129 
Fax: (360) 683.1258 
email: jeff at bellanddavispllc.com <mailto:jeff at bellanddavispllc.com> 
 <http://www.bellanddavispllc.com/> www.bellanddavispllc.com
 
The information contained in this e-mail message may be privileged,
confidential, and protected from disclosure. If you are not the intended
recipient, any dissemination, distribution, or copying is strictly
prohibited. If you think that you have received this e-mail message in
error, please e-mail the sender at  <mailto:info at bellanddavispllc.com>
info at bellanddavispllc.com  or call 360.683.1129.

 

 

From: wsbapt-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com <wsbapt-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com>
On Behalf Of Eric Nelsen
Sent: Wednesday, August 17, 2022 3:19 PM
To: WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <wsbapt at lists.wsbarppt.com>
Subject: [WSBAPT] Estate access to co-owned safe deposit box

 

Decedent and decedent's sister are both named on a safe deposit box in
Seattle at Chase Bank. The living sister is 90+ years old, infirm, and lives
in another state. The PR has the key, has Letters Testamentary, and wants
access-and Chase is telling him he needs either a court order or written
permission from the sister.

 

I have never encountered this problem. The decedent never needed permission
to access their own sd box; why should the PR? Am I missing something? Am I
blinded by my usual rage at the endless bank bureaucracy that never allows
me to talk to the legal department but insists that their stupid position be
transmitted to me via a hapless and innocent teller?

 

Sincerely,

 

Eric

 

Eric C. Nelsen

Sayre Law Offices, PLLC

1417 31st Ave South

Seattle WA 98144-3909

206-625-0092

eric at sayrelawoffices.com <mailto:eric at sayrelawoffices.com> 

 

Covid-19 Update - All attorneys are working remotely during regular business
hours and are available via email and by phone. Videoconferencing also is
available. Signing of estate planning documents can be completed and will be
handled on a case-by-case basis. Please direct mail and deliveries to the
Seattle office.

 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman.fsr.com/pipermail/wsbapt/attachments/20220817/10cd9824/attachment.html>