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

[Heather de Vrieze]

Don't even get me started. The last conversation with a branch manager involved them explaining to me in small words and short sentences that the bank can only accept "original" documents, and since the Letters Testamentary had the word "copy" (as in "certified copy") they would not be able to accept them. I reminded them that death certificates also weren't originals, but certified copies. That didn't go well.

Heather

Heather S. de Vrieze
Attorney-at-Law
[cid:image001.jpg at 01D8B250.786B85F0]
3909 California Avenue SW
Seattle, WA 98116-3705
(206)938-5500
heatherd at westseattlelaw.com<mailto:heatherd at westseattlelaw.com>
www.westseattlelaw.com<http://www.westseattlelaw.com/>
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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.

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