To close a bank account on behalf of someone who has passed away, you must have legal authority to manage the account. Learn everything there is to know when it comes to opening and withdrawing from an estate account in NYC.We go over when you can and cannot take out money. The bank will not allow you to close it unless you have a letter of authorization from the probate court. A bank closure letter may be needed if you want to close a bank account without having to go to your bank's physical location. Closing Deceased Accounts. A bank usually cannot close a deceased account until the person's estate has been settled and closed, typically through probate. There are some steps that you can take to help make it simpler to close your account and distribute its funds when you die. When you've registered the death, you will be issued with a death certificate. This will act as formal notification for the bank to begin closing the account.