An "estate" is the collection of real and personal property belonging to the decedent at the time of their death, as well as any debts they owed. Some places, such as a bank or utility company, need to see a death certificate to verify that a person has died.Do you know how to find out if you are a beneficiary on a bank account? Get the resources you need to help navigate someone else's financial affairs. Settling a Capital One account after someone has passed away. Our goal is to make our processes clear so that you know what to expect. Do you know how to find out if you are a beneficiary on a bank account? Step 1 Fill out the attached Letter of Instruction. If the account is solely in the name of the deceased, the financial institution will typically convert it into an estate account. I look in the lake, the reflection of my shoes.