Below is an overview of the probate process in Minnesota District Court. To close a bank account on behalf of someone who has passed away, you must have legal authority to manage the account.To close a bank account after death, you must completely liquidate its funds. The Medical Examiner (ME) provides death investigative services and forensic autopsy services for deaths that occur in Hennepin, Dakota and Scott counties. You may serve an affidavit of collection on the financial institution holding a multipleparty account in which the decedent had an interest. Probate is a legal process to settle the estate of a person who died (a "decedent"). Notify Bank of America. We'll ask you for the deceased customer's full legal name and Social Security number to identify their accounts. Probate is a legal process to settle the estate of a person who died (a "decedent"). If one of the joint account holders dies, the other joint account holders own the money in the shared bank account.