Can there be a POD on a safe deposit box? Would be any need to do so since the contents become a part of the estate?

No. Payable on Death accounts and Transfer on Death investment accounts are established under state laws that provide for the POD registration and what it means. Safe deposit boxes are not included within their scope.

There are other ways (joint lessees and trusts, for example) to ensure continuity of the safe deposit lease. POD isn't one of them.

If the decedent rented both a garage and a safe deposit box the contents would be handled the same way. The personal representative of the decedent's estate would take control of the contents and deliver those that already belonged to other people to them. Those that belonged to the decedent would be handled according to the terms of the decedent's will.

In the absence of an enabling state statute, a renter cannot use a garage or a safe deposit box to transfer ownership of the contents to another person.

Thanks for the help!