How do I open my father's bank locker after his death?
A registered nominee, or the surviving holder of a jointly held locker, is given access on the death certificate and their identity proof. Without either, the legal heirs get access on the bank's no-nominee documents — typically an affidavit, NOCs and an indemnity, and for anything substantial a succession certificate or legal heir certificate. In every case the bank opens the locker in the presence of the claimants and makes an inventory of the contents before handing them over.
Nominee or joint holder
The Reserve Bank's 2021 locker rules require banks to give a nominee, or a surviving joint holder where the locker was operated jointly, access on the death certificate and their own identification, after the bank verifies the death. The bank opens the locker with the claimant present, prepares an inventory of the contents, has the claimant sign it, and releases the contents. Its role ends there; it does not decide who owns what is inside.
Without a nominee
The legal heirs must establish their entitlement with the bank's prescribed documents — an affidavit of heirship, no-objection letters from the other heirs and an indemnity bond, often with a legal heir certificate. Where the heirs disagree, or the bank's policy requires it for the value likely inside, a succession certificate. The contents are then inventoried and released to the heirs jointly, or to the one they authorise.
A locker key that cannot be found is broken open by the bank at the claimant's cost, in their presence, once entitlement is established.
Find out what your case needs
The free check applies all of the above to your actual family and your actual accounts, and tells you the shares and the document list in two minutes.
Related
Last reviewed 2026-08-31. This is general information, not legal advice. Institution requirements change — confirm before you file.