{"data":{"id":"us-ok/okla.-stat.-tit.-6-6-906","jurisdiction":"us-ok","citation":"Okla. Stat. tit. 6, § 6-906","heading":"Transfer to known heirs of deceased without designated","body":"beneficiary — Affidavit — Release and discharge — False affidavit.\n\nA. 1. When a deposit has been made in a bank or credit union\n\nin the name of a sole individual without designation of a payable-\n\non-death beneficiary, upon the death of the sole owner of the\n\naccount if the amount of the aggregate deposits held in single\n\nownership accounts in the name of the deceased individual is Fifty\n\nThousand Dollars ($50,000.00) or less, the bank or credit union may,\n\nwithout a requirement that heirs open an additional account,\n\ntransfer the funds to the known heirs of the deceased upon receipt\n\nof an affidavit sworn to by the known heirs of the deceased which\n\nestablishes jurisdiction and relationship and states that the owner\n\nof the account left no will; provided, however, that no probate\n\nproceedings are pending. The affidavit shall be sworn to and signed\n\nby the known heirs of the deceased and the same shall swear that the\n\nfacts set forth in the affidavit establishing jurisdiction, heirship\n\nand intestacy are true and correct. The affidavit may contain a\n\nclause indemnifying the bank from any damages related to the release\n\nof funds. In the event the account is subject to pending probate\n\nproceedings, the release of the deposits in the account shall be\n\ndetermined by the court.\n\n2. Upon the death of an individual who is the sole renter of a\n\nsafe deposit box in a bank or credit union, the bank or credit union\n\nmay open the box in the presence of all known heirs and transfer or\n\nrelease the contents to such heirs upon receipt of an affidavit\n\nwhich establishes jurisdiction and relationship to the deceased and\n\nstates that the renter of the safe deposit box left no will or that\n\nthe contents of the safe deposit box are the only known assets of\n\nthe deceased renter. The affidavit shall be sworn to and signed by\n\nthe known heirs of the deceased and the same shall swear that the\n\nfacts set forth in the affidavit establishing jurisdiction, heirship\n\nand intestacy or that the contents of the safe deposit box are the\n\nonly asset of the deceased are true and correct. Every known heir\n\nshall either be present in person or by a duly authorized agent. If\n\nany known heir is unable to be physically present for the opening of\n\nthe box and transfer of the contents, such heir may appoint an agent\n\nby executing authorization in writing in the following form: \"I\n\nhereby authorize (name of person) to act as my agent at the opening\n\nand transfer of contents of safe deposit box (number or other\n\nidentification) at (name of financial institution).\" The\n\nauthorization form shall be signed and dated by the heir and\n\nnotarized. The bank or credit union may impose its standard fee for\n\ndrilling the box if the heirs cannot provide the key for opening.\n\nB. Receipt by the bank or credit union of the affidavit\n\ndescribed in subsection A of this section shall be a valid and\n\nsufficient release and discharge to the bank or credit union for any\n\ntransfer of deposits or contents made in good-faith reliance on the\n\naffidavit and shall serve to discharge the bank or credit union from\n\nliability as to any other party, including any heir, legatee,\n\ndevisee, creditor or other person having rights or claims to funds\n\nor property of the decedent, and include a discharge of the bank or\n\ncredit union from liability for any estate, inheritance or other\n\ntaxes which may be due the state from the estate or as a result of\n\nthe transfer.\n\nC. Any person who knowingly submits and signs a false affidavit\n\nas provided in this section shall be fined not more than Three\n\nThousand Dollars ($3,000.00) or imprisoned for not more than six (6)\n\nmonths, or both. Restitution of the amount fraudulently attained\n\nshall be made to the rightful beneficiary by the guilty person.","path":["OK Code","Title 6"],"source_url":"https://www.oklegislature.gov/OK_Statutes/CompleteTitles/os6.pdf","current_through":"2026-08-14","vintage":"open-us-law v2026.08, retrieved 2026-09-14","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T18:32:36Z","sha256":"7fc58e8a70989afb32515891506e009a20cc148cc52aa1eb98ef0984bcb23247","source_id":"us-ok","stale":false,"prev":"us-ok/okla.-stat.-tit.-6-6-905","next":"us-ok/okla.-stat.-tit.-6-6-907"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}