To close a bank account on behalf of someone who has passed away, you must have legal authority to manage the account. Below is an overview of the probate process in Minnesota District Court.With the affidavit, there is no court appearance, no personal representative appointed, and no mailed notification to interested parties. Probate is a legal process to settle the estate of a person who died (a "decedent"). Some kinds of property and assets do not need to be probated. Closing a bank account following the death of a direct payments customer. Generally, local agencies make an MA estate claim when the property of a deceased person is being distributed after death. Information for adults without children on how to apply for Medical Assistance or MinnesotaCare.