When an individual dies with a bank account solely in his or her name, that bank account becomes the property of the individual's estate. To open an estate bank account, the voluntary administrator must obtain an "EIN Employer Identification Number" from the IRS.The first thing you should do is to make sure you have a complete list of all of your digital accounts that someone else may need to access when you die. Complete the information requested on the Mail-in Claim Form page. I think I heard Clark recently mention a Payable Upon Death declaration through one's bank to help keep things simpler when we die. To Open a Safe Deposit Box After Death in NYC, you must Petition the Surrogate's Court in the County where the Decedent died for permission. Just as you need your SSN to open an individual bank account or an EIN to open a business account, you need an EIN to open an estate bank account. If your loved one was a veteran, you may be eligible for burial and memorial benefits. Bank accounts; Businesses. What assets don't need to go through probate?