New Jersey A3178 revises procedures for accessing a decedent's safe-deposit box to search for the original will and burial documents.

New Jersey A3178 revises procedures concerning access to a decedent's safe-deposit box. An "interested person" can open the box in the presence of the box's lessor by providing a copy of the decedent's death certificate and an affidavit stating their interest in the original will or burial documents. The lessor must remove any document believed to be a will or codicil and deliver it to the appropriate Surrogate. The lessor cannot open the box if there has been a previous opening, if there is an objection, or if the lessee's key or combination is unavailable.

New Jersey A3178 revises procedures for accessing a decedent's safe-deposit box to search for the original will and burial documents.

New Jersey A3178 revises procedures concerning access to a decedent's safe-deposit box. An "interested person" can open the box in the presence of the box's lessor by providing a copy of the decedent's death certificate and an affidavit stating their interest in the original will or burial documents. The lessor must remove any document believed to be a will or codicil and deliver it to the appropriate Surrogate. The lessor cannot open the box if there has been a previous opening, if there is an objection, or if the lessee's key or combination is unavailable.