When can I close the estate and distribute the assets? The bank will not allow you to close it unless you have a letter of authorization from the probate court.To close a bank account on behalf of someone who has passed away, you must have legal authority to manage the account. Follow the bank's procedures: The bank will likely have you fill out some forms and provide the necessary documents to close the account. If someone dies without a will and without naming a beneficiary, it gets more complicated. Most bank accounts can pass directly to beneficiaries, without the need for probate or the court's intervention. When the decedent died, you automatically have full ownership of that property, so it is not part of the estate.