To open an estate bank account, you must provide specific documentation. This may vary from bank to bank but generally includes the following:Online: Use our online form to notify us about a customer's death. To close a bank account on behalf of someone who has passed away, you must have legal authority to manage the account. Surviving account holders should show the bank a copy of the death certificate for the deceased holder as soon as possible. Go to the IRS website to find the EIN Assistant and enter the deceased person's legal information. After notarization, present the affidavit to the relevant parties holding the decedent's assets, such as banks or other financial institutions. By naming a beneficiary directly on your account, the funds will automatically transfer to them upon your death without probate involvement. We'll need a photocopy of the death certificate to verify the identity and legal residence of your loved one as well as confirm date of death. Contact the appropriate institution holding your account to arrange for a Payable on Death designation.