In New York state a safety deposit box held at a bank cannot be opened by the wife, a joint-owner, a POA, once one of the co-owner's dies. The deceased's will must be brought to the appropriate county court, whereby the judge scrutinizes the deceased's will, hopefully determines that it is valid, verifies who the beneficiary is, then prepares a document that allows the proper party to present it to the bank in order to be granted permission to open the box. Sometimes, a court appointed attorney is assigned to witness the opening of the box and examine its contents as well. This "law" is a bunch of BS, but there is no other way to get to that safety box once an owner is deceased. Anyone else experience this?