The bank will not allow you to close it unless you have a letter of authorization from the probate court. In New York State, the Surrogate's Court decides what happens to a person's property when that person dies.To close a bank account on behalf of someone who has passed away, you must have legal authority to manage the account. The PDF version of these forms are FILLABLE. They can be filled out electronically, then printed. You can use this letter template to write to the bank to request the closure of a direct payments account following the death of the account holder. You'll have to go into the bank and speak to the branch manager. They can sort it out for you. Gather necessary documents: The bank will want to make sure they are giving the right person the money. Was the deceased person the sole owner of the account?