What can we do if my wife’s adoptive mother passed away 16 years ago and we just found out that her safe deposit box was never claimed at the bank?
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What can we do if my wife’s adoptive mother passed away 16 years ago and we just found out that her safe deposit box was never claimed at the bank?
She just reconnected with her aunt who was the executor of the Will and does not want to ruin that relationship by asking about it. She does want to see if some things that her mother told her about are still in there. The bank said that they would need the Will or executor to come and have it opened. Is there any other way for her to claim what should be hers?
Asked on March 25, 2015 under Estate Planning, North Carolina
Answers:
M.T.G., Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 9 years ago | Contributor
No, there is no other way but opening the estate back up. This is not an easy issue to deal with in this forum and the facts as to what the Will stated, etc., are important. So I would tell your wife to speak with a lawyer as soon as she can and discuss a petition to reopen the estate for finding additional assets and asking her aunt if she could step in to be appointed in her place. And either way, she should be there when it is opened by the bank. Good luck.
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