To close a bank account on behalf of someone who has passed away, you must have legal authority to manage the account. A letter indicating that there are sufficient funds in the Estate to pay funeral costs may be required.Keep all contracts and receipts from the funeral home. Online: Use our online form to notify us about a customer's death. A letter of last instruction as an essential part of their estate plans. It's not a replacement for a will, and in fact it's not even a legal document. Some of the points you might consider placing in the letter of instruction include a list of your assets and where to find them. When one party dies, the survivor owns all remaining assets in the account. Letter of instruction. With this form, you will attach the death certificate and the Will.