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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>55226</law_id><section_number>6.2-2303</section_number><catch_line>Limited access to safe deposit box upon incapacity of lessee</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="6.2">Financial Institutions and Services</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="IV">Other Financial Activities</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="23">Safe Deposit Boxes</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Upon receiving a letter from a licensed physician that in his professional <span class="dictionary">opinion</span> an individual, who is the sole <span class="dictionary">lessee</span> of a <span class="dictionary">box</span>, is incapable of receiving and evaluating information effectively or responding to people, events, or environments to such an extent that the individual lacks the capacity: <a id="paragraph-202506" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/6.2-2303/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> To manage property or financial affairs or provide for his support or for the support of his legal dependents without the assistance or protection of another, the <span class="dictionary">company</span> may permit access to such <span class="dictionary">box</span> for the limited purpose of looking for a <span class="dictionary">power of attorney</span> executed by the <span class="dictionary">lessee</span> that relates to the management of his property or financial affairs; or <a id="paragraph-202507" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/6.2-2303/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> To meet the essential requirements for his health, care, safety, or therapeutic needs without the assistance or protection of another, the <span class="dictionary">company</span> may permit access to the <span class="dictionary">box</span> for the limited purpose of looking for an advance medical directive executed by the <span class="dictionary">lessee</span>. <a id="paragraph-202508" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/6.2-2303/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Such access shall only be granted to the <span class="dictionary">lessee</span>&#x2019;s guardian, conservator, spouse or next of kin or to a <span class="dictionary">person</span> asserting a knowledge or belief: <a id="paragraph-202509" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/6.2-2303/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> If the access is sought pursuant to subdivision A 1, that he is named as an agent in a <span class="dictionary">power of attorney</span> believed to be in the <span class="dictionary">box</span>; or <a id="paragraph-202510" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/6.2-2303/#B1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> If the access is sought pursuant to subdivision A 2, that he is named as an agent in an advance medical directive believed to be in the <span class="dictionary">box</span>. <a id="paragraph-202511" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/6.2-2303/#B2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Access to a <span class="dictionary">box</span> shall be under the supervision of a designated officer or employee of the <span class="dictionary">company</span>, and nothing shall be removed from the <span class="dictionary">box</span> except (i) if the access is sought pursuant to subdivision A 1, the <span class="dictionary">power of attorney</span> for transmission to a <span class="dictionary">person</span> named as agent therein or (ii) if the access is sought pursuant to subdivision A 2, the advance medical directive for transmission to a <span class="dictionary">person</span> named as agent therein or in the absence of such a <span class="dictionary">person</span>, to the <span class="dictionary">lessee</span>&#x2019;s attending physician to be made a part of the <span class="dictionary">lessee</span>&#x2019;s medical records. <a id="paragraph-202512" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/6.2-2303/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> If the <span class="dictionary">box</span> is co-leased, the <span class="dictionary">company</span> may permit entry into the <span class="dictionary">box</span> by the same <span class="dictionary">persons</span> and under the same circumstances and terms as specified above, upon proof satisfactory to it that the then co-<span class="dictionary">lessees</span> are not reasonably available for access to the <span class="dictionary">box</span>. <a id="paragraph-202513" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/6.2-2303/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> The <span class="dictionary">company</span> shall (i) make a photocopy of any document removed from a <span class="dictionary">box</span> pursuant to this section, (ii) place the copy in the <span class="dictionary">box</span> prior to delivering the original to any <span class="dictionary">person</span>, and (iii) not be liable except for acting in bad faith or for permitting the removal of other items from the <span class="dictionary">box</span>. <a id="paragraph-202514" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/6.2-2303/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1984, c. 446, &#xA7; 6.1-332.1; 2002, c. 312; 2003, c. 269; 2010, c. 794.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
