Deceased Account

A deceased account is a bank account, such as a savings or checking account, owned by a deceased person. When a bank receives notice that a customer has died, it will freeze his/her account(s) while waiting for direction from the authorized court regarding payment to heirs and creditors.

When an account holder dies, the next of kin must notify his or her banks of the death. This is usually done by delivering a certified copy of the death certificate to the bank, along with the deceased’s name and Social Security number, plus bank account numbers and other information. The bank may require other documents, including court-issued letters testamentary or letters of administration naming an executor or administrator of the deceased’s estate.

Accounts that the deceased held jointly with a surviving heir are not considered deceased accounts. Ownership of these accounts reverts to the surviving owner, who may close the account at his or her discretion or continue to use it. If the account is a pay-on-death account, the bank should release the money to the named beneficiary when provided with a certified copy of the deceased’s death certificate and when the named beneficiary produces adequate identification.

Power of attorney arrangements end when the person dies. This means that a survivor may have held a power of attorney that allowed them to access an account when the account holder was still alive, but they’ll no longer have access once the bank has been notified of the account holder’s death.

Trustees named before the death of the account holder should be able to access the deceased account with the proper documentation, including identification and a copy of the trustee provision.

Usually, a bank cannot close a deceased account until after the person’s estate has gone through probate. The probate court will appoint an executor or administrator if one is not named in the deceased’s will. This person will have the authority to close the deceased accounts, and distribute the funds therein to heirs and creditors.

Bank personnel are typically restricted from providing much practical advice to heirs regarding how to handle the affairs of a deceased customer's account, although some banks do have estate units. It is advisable to obtain legal assistance or contact the appropriate court for direction regarding how to handle a deceased person’s bank accounts.