The decedent must have resided in the County of filing. How do I open an estate account?Just make an appointment at your local financial center and an associate will be happy to assist you. Banks need to be notified of death; they won't work it out alone. A Florida estate administration attorney explains why some bank accounts pass directly to new owners, and others must go through the probate process. Notify Bank of America. We'll ask you for the deceased customer's full legal name and Social Security number to identify their accounts. To close a bank account on behalf of someone who has passed away, you must have legal authority to manage the account. Fill it out for the deceased, but don't forge the name. If there is a beneficiary, that person would take a death certificate to the bank and fill out some paperwork.