To close a bank account on behalf of someone who has passed away, you must have legal authority to manage the account. The bank will not allow you to close it unless you have a letter of authorization from the probate court.You can use this letter template to write to the bank to request the closure of a direct payments account following the death of the account holder. When a loved one dies, you will need to administer an estate for them. This article lays out the process of inheritance in Pennsylvania. Online: Use our online form to notify us about a customer's death. Below are the common documents needed to close or change accounts. An original death certificate. An estimate of the estate's value. This means that the executor will close all of the individual's bank accounts and reopen them as estate accounts with the bank of the executor's choice.