Start with the bank's estate or deceased account department
Call the bank where the account is held and ask for the estate department or deceased account team. Do not go through the regular customer service line — most banks have a specific unit that handles account closures after death, and they know the exact documents they need and the order to request them in. Have the account number ready, and tell them the person's full name and date of death.
The bank will tell you whether you need to be the executor named in a will, a power of attorney, a surviving joint account holder, or a next of kin. This varies by state and by the account type. Some banks will close the account only for an executor; others will work with a surviving spouse or adult child even without formal paperwork, depending on the account balance and state law.
Ask the bank to send you a written list of what documents they need. Do not rely on a phone conversation — get it in writing, either by email or by mail. Banks change their requirements, and you need proof of what they asked for if a problem comes up later.
Key Takeaways
- Contact the bank's estate or deceased account department directly, not regular customer service, because they handle closures and know exactly what paperwork is required.
- You will need to provide a death certificate, and the bank will tell you how many certified copies to order from the vital records office.
- If the account is held only in the deceased person's name, the bank may require court paperwork (probate documents or a small estate affidavit) before releasing funds, depending on the balance and your state.
- Joint accounts and accounts with a named beneficiary usually close faster because the surviving owner or beneficiary can claim the money without probate court involvement.
- The bank will freeze the account once you report the death, so no one can withdraw money while the closure is being processed.
Gather the death certificate and other required documents
Order multiple certified copies of the death certificate from the county vital records office or the funeral home — typically 5 to 10 copies. Banks, insurance companies, and government agencies all need their own copy, and you cannot use the same one twice. The funeral home can usually order them for you, or you can contact the vital records office in the county where the person died.
The bank will also ask for a government-issued photo ID belonging to you (the person closing the account), proof of your relationship to the deceased, and sometimes a signed statement saying you are authorized to close the account. If you are the executor, bring a certified copy of the will or the court order naming you executor. If you are a surviving spouse, bring the marriage certificate. If you are an adult child, bring your birth certificate or a document showing your relationship.
Some banks ask for a completed form specific to their bank — an estate claim form or account closure authorization. Ask the estate department to email or mail this to you so you can fill it out and return it with your other documents.
Understand what happens if the account requires probate
If the account is held only in the deceased person's name and the balance is above a certain threshold, your state may require probate court involvement before the bank will release the money. The threshold varies — some states set it at $5,000, others at $15,000 or higher. The bank will tell you whether your account crosses that line.
If probate is required, you have two paths. The formal route is to file for probate in the county where the person lived, which means going to probate court, filing the will (if there is one), and waiting for a judge to issue an order. This can take several months. The faster route, available in most states, is a small estate affidavit — a sworn statement you file with the court saying the estate is small enough to skip full probate. You can usually file this yourself without a lawyer, though some people hire an estate attorney to handle it.
Ask the bank whether they will accept a small estate affidavit for your account balance, or whether they require full probate. If they accept the affidavit, ask the probate court clerk in the county where the person died how to file one — the process and forms vary by state.
Handle joint accounts and accounts with named beneficiaries differently
If the account is held jointly with a surviving owner, that person can usually claim their share without probate. The surviving owner should contact the bank, provide the death certificate, and ask to have the account retitled in their name alone. Some banks do this in a few days; others take one to two weeks.
If the account has a named beneficiary (a payable-on-death or POD designation), the beneficiary can claim the money directly without probate, even if the account is held only in the deceased person's name. The beneficiary should contact the bank, provide the death certificate and a government ID, and ask to claim the funds. The bank will verify the beneficiary designation in their system and release the money.
Joint accounts and POD accounts bypass probate entirely, which is why they close much faster than accounts with no beneficiary. If you are the surviving owner or named beneficiary, the bank may close the account within a week or two of receiving your documents.
Provide the bank with information about outstanding debts and taxes
Before the bank releases any funds, tell them about any debts owed by the deceased — credit card balances, loans, medical bills, or taxes. The bank may hold part of the account balance to cover these, or they may release the full amount and let the executor or estate handle the debts separately. This depends on the bank's policy and the state.
If there is a will and an executor, the executor is responsible for paying debts from the estate before distributing money to heirs. If there is no will and no executor, the responsibility falls to whoever is closing the account or managing the estate. Ask the bank what their policy is on holding funds for debts.
Also ask whether the bank needs a federal tax ID for the estate (an EIN) before releasing funds. If the account will be held in the estate's name for any length of time, the IRS may require an EIN. The bank can tell you whether this applies to your situation.
Follow up if the account closure is delayed
Most account closures take two to four weeks from the time you submit all documents. Some banks take longer if they need to verify the death certificate, contact the probate court, or investigate whether there are outstanding claims against the account.
If you have not heard back within four weeks, call the estate department and ask for a status update. Provide your name, the deceased person's name, the account number, and the date you submitted your documents. Ask for a specific date when you can expect the account to close and the funds to be released.
If the bank is asking for documents you have already provided, ask them to check their file before requesting duplicates. If they claim they never received something, ask them to confirm in writing what they are missing, and then send it again by certified mail with a return receipt so you have proof of delivery.
Know what to do with the money once the account closes
The bank will release the funds to whoever is authorized to receive them — the executor, the surviving joint owner, the named beneficiary, or the person who filed the small estate affidavit. The bank will usually issue a check or transfer the money to another account you specify.
If you are the executor, the money becomes part of the estate and must be held in an estate account until debts are paid and the remaining funds are distributed to heirs according to the will or state law. If you are a surviving joint owner or named beneficiary, the money is yours to keep.
Keep all bank statements, the death certificate, and any paperwork the bank sends you. You may need these for taxes, for the probate court, or to show creditors that the account has been closed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a lawyer to close a bank account after someone dies?
Not always. If the account is joint or has a named beneficiary, you can usually close it yourself by contacting the bank and providing a death certificate. If the account requires probate or small estate paperwork, you can file the forms yourself in most states, though some people hire an estate attorney to handle it. A lawyer is most useful if the estate is complicated, there are multiple accounts, or there are disputes among heirs.
How many certified copies of the death certificate do I need?
Order at least 5 to 10 copies. The bank needs one, the IRS may need one, insurance companies need one, and you should keep extras for other creditors or government agencies. Each organization needs its own certified copy — you cannot photocopy a certified copy and have it count as certified.
What if the bank says they need probate but I think the account is small enough for a small estate affidavit?
Ask the bank in writing what their threshold is for requiring probate. Then contact the probate court clerk in the county where the person died and ask whether a small estate affidavit is available for accounts at that balance. If the court says yes, ask the bank whether they will accept it. If they refuse, you may need to file for full probate or consult an estate attorney.
Can I withdraw money from the account before it is officially closed?
No. Once you report the death to the bank, they freeze the account and no one can withdraw money until the account is closed and the funds are released to the authorized person. This protects the estate from fraud and ensures debts are paid before heirs receive money.
What happens to the account if there is no will and no executor?
The bank will close the account and release the funds according to your state's intestacy laws, which set an order of priority — usually spouse first, then adult children, then parents, then siblings. You will need to provide proof of your relationship and may need to file a small estate affidavit or go through probate court. Ask the bank what documents they need to determine who is may have access to to the money.