A. An adverse claim to the contents of a safe deposit box, or to property held in safekeeping, is not sufficient to require the lessor to deny access to its lessee unless:

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Terms Used In New Mexico Statutes 58-1-15

  • Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
  • Beneficiary: A person who is entitled to receive the benefits or proceeds of a will, trust, insurance policy, retirement plan, annuity, or other contract. Source: OCC
  • Fiduciary: A trustee, executor, or administrator.
  • Lease: A contract transferring the use of property or occupancy of land, space, structures, or equipment in consideration of a payment (e.g., rent). Source: OCC

(1)     the lessor is directed to do so by a court order issued in an action in which the lessee is served with process and named as a party by a name which identifies him with the name in which the safe deposit box is leased or the property held; or

(2)     the safe deposit box is leased or the property is held in the name of a lessee with the addition of words indicating that the contents or property are held in a fiduciary capacity, and the adverse claim is supported by an affidavit stating facts disclosing that it is made by or on behalf of a beneficiary and that there is a reason to believe that the fiduciary may misappropriate the trust property.

B. A claim is also adverse where one of several lessees claims, contrary to the terms of the lease, an exclusive right of access, or where one or more persons claim a right of access as agents or officers of a lessee to the exclusion of others as agents or officers, or where it is claimed that a lessee is the same person as one using another name.