Funds belonging to a deceased depositor which remain on deposit in a joint account without right of survivorship belong to the depositor's estate. We're ready to help.This guide explains the account settlement process after the death of a member. If you were not named to serve as Decedent's Personal Representative, complete the Header of an Oath of Personal Representative (Without Will) form. The beneficiary should go to the bank with a certified copy of the death certificate to get a check issued and close the account. Download and complete a Probate Notice to Creditors form. In what state should I open an estate account? It's best to open an estate account with the decedent's bank in the state where they lived. Discover when a surviving spouse in Washington needs to initiate probate. Understand the probate process and community property issues.