(a) A public administrator who is authorized to take possession or control of property of a decedent pursuant to this article may issue a written certification of that fact. The written certification is effective for 30 days after the date of issuance.
(b) The public administrator may record a copy of the written certification in any county in which is located real property of which the public administrator is authorized to take possession or control under this article.
(c) A financial institution, government or private agency, retirement fund administrator, insurance company, licensed securities dealer, or other person shall, without the necessity of inquiring into the truth of the written certification, without requiring a death certificate, without charge, and without court order or letters being issued:
(1) Provide the public administrator complete information concerning property held in the sole name of the decedent, including the names and addresses of any beneficiaries.
(2) Grant the public administrator access to a safe-deposit box rented in the sole name of the decedent for the purpose of inspection and removal of any will or instructions for disposition of the decedent’s remains. Costs and expenses incurred in drilling or forcing a safe-deposit box shall be borne by the estate of the decedent.
(3) Surrender to the public administrator any property of the decedent that, in the sole discretion of the public administrator, is deemed to be subject to loss, injury, waste, or misappropriation.
(d) Receipt of the written certification provided by this section:
(1) Constitutes sufficient acquittance for providing information or granting access to the safe-deposit box, for removal of the decedent’s will and instructions for disposition of the decedent’s remains, and for surrendering property of the decedent.
(2) Fully discharges the financial institution, government or private agency, retirement fund administrator, insurance company, licensed securities dealer, or other person from any liability for any act or omission of the public administrator with respect to the property or the safe-deposit box.
(Amended by Stats. 2004, Ch. 888, Sec. 4. Effective January 1, 2005.)
Last modified: October 25, 2018