17:14A-52. Accessibility to vault, safe deposit box or receptacle

17:14A-52. Accessibility to vault, safe deposit box or receptacle

The right of access to a vault, safe deposit box or receptacle rented to a lessee by a safe deposit company shall be governed by the rental agreement, the provisions of P.L.1955, c. 151 (C. 46:39-1 et seq.), R.S. 54:35-19 and R.S. 54:35-20.

46:39-1. Rental by two or more acting as co-executors, co-administrators, co-guardians, co-trustees, co-receivers; accessibility

When a safe-deposit box or other receptacle for the safekeeping of personal property is rented to two or more persons acting as co-executors, co-administrators, co-guardians, co-trustees or co-receivers, access to such safe-deposit box or other receptacle may be allowed as follows, as the contract of renting shall provide:

(a) by any one or more of such persons acting as co-executors;

(b) by any one or more of the persons acting as co-administrators, co-guardians, co-trustees or co-receivers, when authorized in a writing signed by the other person or all other persons so acting;

(c) by any agent authorized in a writing signed by all the persons acting as co-executors, co-administrators, co-guardians, co-trustees or co-receivers.

54:35-20. Penalty for failure to notify or obtain consent of tax commissioner

A safe deposit company, trust company, bank or other institution or corporation or person failing to serve notice, allow an examination or retain a sufficient portion or amount to pay the tax and interest, pursuant to the requirements of section 54:35-19 of this title, shall be liable to pay the amount of the tax and interest due or to become due upon the securities, deposits, shares of stock or other assets so transferred or delivered, and in addition shall be liable to a penalty of one thousand dollars. Such liability to pay the tax and interest and penalty, may be enforced in an action at law in the name of the state, and, when recovered, the same shall be paid into the treasury for the use of the state.

This section shall not be deemed to render a safe deposit company, trust company, bank or other institution or corporation or person liable to such tax and interest or penalty of one thousand dollars where it or he delivers securities, deposits, shares of stock or other assets belonging to or standing in the names of two or more persons to one of such persons without knowledge or reasonable ground to believe that another one of such persons is dead.