The Safe Deposit Box Petition free DIY Form program is used to ask the Surrogate's Court to see what is in the safe deposit box of a person who died. Are you in possession of any property belonging to or standing in the name of the deceased?If so, state from whom, when and for what purpose you received it:. The documents needed are a death certificate, residential proof, bank passbook, etc. To Open a Safe Deposit Box After Death in NYC, you must Petition the Surrogate's Court in the County where the Decedent died for permission. This is to notify the bank that my. (Relationship with deceased). A valid governmentissued ID. The death certificate of the account holder. The account owner's social security number. Where you apply for Medicaid will depend on your category of eligibility.