When can I close the estate and distribute the assets? To close a bank account on behalf of someone who has passed away, you must have legal authority to manage the account.In this section, you can find information and answers to the following questions: 1. Present a certified death certificate where the deceased's account is located. Notify Bank of America. We'll ask you for the deceased customer's full legal name and Social Security number to identify their accounts. A copy of the death certificate is attached. Signature. Name (type or print). Address. Closing a bank account following the death of a direct payments customer. . More than 28 days have passed since decedent's death. 3.