This form is a sample letter in Word format covering the subject matter of the title of the form.
This form is a sample letter in Word format covering the subject matter of the title of the form.
Contact the bank in advance to ensure you arrive with the appropriate documents, but you'll likely need to bring a notarized or certified copy of the death certificate and proof of your identity, such as a driver's license or passport. You'll also need the decedent's legal name and Social Security number.
No Beneficiary on Bank Account If there is no beneficiary listed on the bank account, the account typically goes through probate, and the funds will be distributed ing to the deceased's will or state laws if there is no will.
"The surviving owner will be able to withdraw funds from the account," says David Doehring, probate attorney and managing partner of Doehring & Doehring Attorneys at Law. If the account has a payable on death beneficiary, the bank account balance goes to the beneficiary after the last account owner dies.
Banks freeze access to deceased accounts, such as savings or checking accounts, pending direction from an authorized court. Banks generally cannot close a deceased account until after the person's estate has gone through probate or has otherwise settled.
In these cases, simply visit the bank with a valid ID and a certified copy of the death certificate. You will then have access to the account, allowing you to withdraw the funds as needed.
Probate Administration To access the funds in a deceased person's bank account, the appointed executor must provide documentation to the bank to prove that the court has appointed them as the estate executor. This documentation may include a death certificate, letters testamentary, and other legal documents.
Visit Banks in Their Area You will need to provide documentation to prove both that the account holder died and you have the legal authority (as a designated beneficiary, joint account holder or executor/administrator) to access the account.
Once you've been appointed executor or personal representative by the probate court, you'll probably want to open a bank account in the name of the estate. Usually, an account for an estate is registered in this or a similar way: "Estate of Gerald S. Smith, Deceased, Pamela S. Smith, executor."
Any bank can handle an estate account. It isn't exactly rocket science, the main difference being the signer on the account was court-approved. Pick your favorite bank and go there.