When a person dies, someone will often need to locate the decedent's personal documents, such as a will, life insurance policy, burial plot deed, and burial instructions. Ideally, one or more of the decedent's family or friends will have access to these documents—or at least know their location (safe-deposit box, home safe).

If a person has a contractual right to access the decedent's safe-deposit box by virtue of being named on the lease agreement for the safe-deposit box, such person may access the documents and remove them, rather than merely inspecting them in the presence of a bank officer or the attorney or financial planner who has possession of the documents.

If the documents are known or believed to be in a safe-deposit box or held by another third party (attorney or financial planner), state statutes (laws) generally govern access to the documents—whether such access is with or without a court order.

For example, a state statute may identify the persons who may inspect such documents without a court order and the circumstances under which the documents may be inspected. And often a person other than one of the persons listed in the statute may seek a court order for access to a safe-deposit box or to documents held by a third-party custodian, such as the decedent's lawyer or financial planner.

In South Carolina, when a person passes away, it is common for family or friends to seek out important personal documents such as the will, life insurance policies, and burial instructions. If an individual is named on the lease agreement of a safe-deposit box belonging to the decedent, they have the contractual right to access and remove documents from it. South Carolina law provides specific guidelines for accessing a decedent's safe-deposit box and personal documents. Under South Carolina Code Ann. § 27-5-110, certain individuals, such as the executor or a person named in the will, can inspect and remove contents from a safe-deposit box without a court order, in the presence of a bank officer. If the documents are held by a third party, like an attorney or financial planner, access may be governed by state statutes, which outline who may access these documents and under what circumstances. If someone is not listed in the statute, they may petition the court for an order to access the safe-deposit box or documents held by a third party. It is advisable for individuals seeking access to such documents to consult with an attorney to understand the specific legal requirements and procedures in South Carolina.