A safe deposit company generally may not end a safe deposit box rental without advance notice and an opportunity to retrieve contents, and it must follow notice, inventory, storage, lien, and sale rules if rent stays unpaid or the rental ends.
Sec. 59.109. TERMINATION OF RENTAL; LIEN; SALE OF CONTENTS. (a) A safe deposit company may not terminate an agreement for the rental of a safe deposit box unless: (1) the safe deposit company has delivered or sent to the lessee a notice not later than the 90th day before the date of the termination and has provided the lessee an opportunity to retrieve the contents during normal business hours throughout the duration of the notice period; or (2) the payment for the rental of a safe deposit box is delinquent for at least six months, and the lessee fails to pay the rent due following notice provided under Subsection (a-1). (a-1) If the payment for the rental of a safe deposit box is delinquent for at least six months, or if the rental agreement is otherwise terminated, the safe deposit company shall send notice to each lessee that the company will remove the contents of the box if the rent is not paid or, if the rental agreement is otherwise terminated, the contents are not retrieved before the date specified in the notice, which may not be earlier than the 60th day after the date the notice is delivered or sent. (a-2) If the delinquent rent is not paid or, if the rental agreement is otherwise terminated, the contents are not retrieved before the date specified in the notice, the safe deposit company may open the box in the presence of two employees, at least one of whom is an officer or manager of the safe deposit company and at least one of whom is a notary public. The safe deposit company shall inventory the contents of the box in detail as provided by the comptroller's reporting instructions and place the contents of the box in a sealed envelope or container bearing the name of the lessee. (b) The safe deposit company has a lien on the contents of the box for an amount equal to the rental owed for the box and the cost of opening the box. The safe deposit company may retain possession of the contents not later than two years from the date of the opening of the box plus a reasonable period to dispose of the contents of the box. If the rental and the cost of opening the box are not paid before the second anniversary of the date the box was opened, or if the rental agreement is being terminated for a reason other than delinquent payment, and the lessee has failed to retrieve the contents in a reasonable period after notice of the termination has been sent or delivered, the safe deposit company may sell all or part of the contents at public auction in the manner and with the notice prescribed by Section 51.002, Property Code, for the sale of real property under a deed of trust. Any unsold contents of the box and any excess proceeds from a sale of contents shall be remitted to the comptroller as provided by Chapters 72-75, Property Code. Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1008, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997. Amended by: Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 915 (S.B. 1400), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2017.