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.Question: what is required to close out a deceased person's bank account, no will but everything went to closest blood rel. My dad passed away two months ago. Got the death certificate in hand and went to the bank to close his account. This packet contains court forms and instructions to file a small estate affidavit of transfer. A bank usually cannot close a deceased account until the person's estate has been settled and closed, typically through probate. Don't be in a hurry to close out an Estate account. Just let it sit for a couple of years, you never know when a check may arrive for that person. You could just send them a letter stating that his estate was insolvent and no probate case will be filed.