2025 Texas Statutes
Estates Code
Title 2 - Estates of Decedents; Durable Powers of Attorney
Subtitle D - Proceedings Before Administration of Estate
Chapter 151 - Examination of Documents and Safe Deposit Boxes
Section 151.001. Examination of Documents or Safe Deposit Box With Court Order
Sec. 151.001. EXAMINATION OF DOCUMENTS OR SAFE DEPOSIT BOX WITH COURT ORDER. (a) A judge of a court that has probate jurisdiction of a decedent's estate may order a person to permit a court representative named in the order to examine a decedent's documents or safe deposit box if it is shown to the judge that:
(1) the person may possess or control the documents or that the person leased the safe deposit box to the decedent; and
(2) the documents or safe deposit box may contain:
(A) a will of the decedent;
(B) a deed to a burial plot in which the decedent is to be buried; or
(C) an insurance policy issued in the decedent's name and payable to a beneficiary named in the policy.
(b) The court representative shall examine the decedent's documents or safe deposit box in the presence of:
(1) the judge ordering the examination or an agent of the judge; and
(2) the person who has possession or control of the documents or who leased the safe deposit box or, if that person is a corporation, an officer of the corporation or an agent of an officer.
Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 680 (H.B. 2502), Sec. 1, eff. January 1, 2014.
