The best way to make sure it isn't tied up in probate is to make all accounts a joint account or trust account. Notify Bank of America.We'll ask you for the deceased customer's full legal name and Social Security number to identify their accounts. Banks freeze access to deceased accounts pending direction from an authorized court. Present either of these letters to the bank along with the death certificate to close the account. Bank accounts that are solely in your name can be held up temporarily upon your death. They freeze some joint accounts, but this usually happens if no one notifies the bank about the deceased person's death. We make it as easy as possible for you to close a bank account after a death, or to remove the deceased's name from a joint account. When you've registered the death, you will be issued with a death certificate. This will act as formal notification for the bank to begin closing the account.