Can anyone provide some guidance on safe box procedures? We recently found out that the state no longer wants to do the inventories on deceased box owners and they are encouraging the banks to do this for them.

I really prefer to keep the bank out of estate inventories as much as possible. If there are multiple executors, or an executor and an attorney managing the estate, we ask that both parties inventory the box together. If two parties are absolutely not available, a bank officer may pinch hit.

If the Bank has to do the inventory, where are the inventory forms to be sent? Also, if we open the box for a will, and/or deed to a cemetery plot do we file those docuements locally or do we send them to the state?

The state forms typically include the address they need to be sent to.

We also file the removal of will form at our county courthouse. The procedures may be slightly different in your county, so you shoudl check with your Register of Wills.

The state forms are not publicly available on the website, since they are restricted to FI use only. To obtain the forms, email RA-InheritTaxForms@state.pa.us

If a bank employee or a representative of the Department of Revenue are NOT conducting the inventory, there are special requirments that must be met. Do not let the executor and/or the attorney for the estate into the box without proper authorization from the Department of Revenue. Start here http://www.revenue.state.pa.us/revenue/lib/revenue/rev-584.pdf.
PA Code 72 PS 9193 covers this and the Department of Revenue Inheritance Tax Division is very helpful if you call them.

Also Profit Protection has a SDB Manual that we just purchased. It is comprehensive.