The person who died is called the Decedent. That person's property is called the estate.Get the resources you need to help navigate someone else's financial affairs. You can order a copy of a death certificate for someone who died in New York City in or after 1949. Do you know how to find out if you are a beneficiary on a bank account? I would request the bank to close all the bank accounts at your branch and issue the official check in my name or. This booklet explains many of these laws you need to know and provides resources where you can find more information about landlord and tenant issues. You can order a certified short form or long form copy of a birth certificate for someone born in New York City in or after 1910.