To close a bank account on behalf of someone who has passed away, you must have legal authority to manage the account. It is often necessary that the property and financial affairs of a deceased person be supervised through a court process.For additional information, including links to important forms and how to connect with the Decedent Estate courtrooms, click on the tabs below. To close a bank account after death, you must completely liquidate its funds. If the bank is requiring letters testamentary, you will need to go through probate to obtain them. I suggest you meet with an experienced probate attorney. Alert: For a better experience on Congress. Gov, please enable JavaScript in your browser. Navigation. Find out the dos and don'ts of closing up shop. Wills; Trusts; Deeds; Contracts; Affidavits.