To close a bank account on behalf of someone who has passed away, you must have legal authority to manage the account. The bank will not allow you to close it unless you have a letter of authorization from the probate court.We've got the answers in our FAQs. You should also make a list of what the Decedent owned at the time of death (such as bank accounts, house, stocks, etc.). You'll just need the death certificate and your ID. The bank should close the account and make checks payable to the beneficiary.