The procedure is very simple. Get the death certificate and legal heir certificate.To close a bank account on behalf of someone who has passed away, you must have legal authority to manage the account. Affidavit-death forms are used to change the title on rea l property after the death of a joint tenant, trustee or trustor. To close a bank account after death, you must completely liquidate its funds. The first and foremost thing you must do to close a bank account upon the death of a loved one is to inform the bank of this death. If the bank is requiring letters testamentary, you will need to go through probate to obtain them. I suggest you meet with an experienced probate attorney. This proceeding involves the mutually exclusive ap- plications of Royce International Broadcasting Company.