Closing Bank Accounts After a Death, Updated October 2026

After a loved one dies, there are so many legal and administrative details to take care of, all while coping with grief and caring for family and friends who are also grieving. This article covers how to manage one of those important administrative details: closing bank accounts, a necessary step in handling a person's affairs and settling an estate after death. It covers the documents required, the procedures involved, and a list of leading U.S. banks with their specific requirements.

Key Takeaways

• You need a death certificate and account details to close a bank account after someone dies.
• Joint accounts transfer to the surviving owner; in most cases, solo accounts freeze until probate is complete.
• Specific closure requirements may vary from bank to bank.
• Elayne can handle account closures and estate paperwork so you can breathe easier and focus on yourself, your family, and your friends, instead of time-consuming administrative steps.

{{blog-cta-financial}}

What Happens to a Bank Account When Someone Passes Away

When a bank account owner dies, the account is turned over to a joint owner or beneficiary if there is one. If there isn't one, the account typically becomes part of the owner's estate. Then the disbursement of funds is handled in probate court. (We'll look at these scenarios in more detail below.) In rare cases where no heirs or estate representatives are found, unclaimed funds may eventually be turned over to a state’s unclaimed property division, though the process and timeline can vary by state.

If the account has a payable on death beneficiary, the bank account balance goes to the beneficiary after the account owner dies. A beneficiary can claim bank account funds by contacting the bank and providing a death certificate. (If you or a loved one is making estate plans, designating a payable on death beneficiary for your bank accounts is one way to make carrying out your after-death plans less complicated.)

What You Need to Do Before Contacting a Bank

Before notifying financial institutions about a loved one's passing, create a complete list of all their financial accounts. Consider starting a spreadsheet to keep a record of all your communications and contacts. When speaking to a bank representative over the phone, always ask for a name, a job title, and a direct phone number and email, and keep this information with your notes about the call.

Requesting several copies of the death certificate from the county clerk or the funeral director will also be helpful. Almost all banks will require one to close an account. These individual copies will be needed for estate planning amendments, legal accounts, and financial account consolidation after death.

Trustees and executors should make sure they have the trust document and, if possible, the final will. (If the deceased had a will or trust but you are not the trustee or executor of the estate, it's best to consult the executor of the estate for further guidance on the next steps.)

What Happens If Someone Doesn’t Have a Will

When someone doesn’t have a will, intestate succession laws will determine how their assets are distributed. These laws are complex, and in most cases, only immediate family members are entitled to inherit. The account will enter the probate process, and assets will be frozen until the estate is settled. Funds may be released to cover immediate expenses such as funeral costs, after which debts are paid and remaining funds distributed to the legal heirs.

What Happens to a Joint Bank Account When Someone Passes Away

Typically, if an account is jointly held with rights of survivorship, the surviving account holder retains the entire account balance. It doesn't matter if the deceased person was the one who typically handled the account. Joint bank accounts do not go through the probate process. (Note that not all joint accounts automatically include rights of survivorship; if the account was set up differently, the deceased’s share may still go through probate.)

Bank Contact Information

Below, we'll list major U.S. banks, their contact information, and what you'll need in order to close an account. When closing an account, you’ll need a copy of the death certificate, investment or bank account numbers, the deceased's full legal name, and their complete social security number.

Also, you should always bring, or have ready, valid identification when closing an account. Although we've listed the basic necessary information and documents you need, you may also need to provide a copy of a trust or will, the deceased's birth certificate, insurance documentation, a court appointment of executor, and current bank statements. For example, Wells Fargo may request a court appointment of executor, and Chase or Bank of America may ask for current bank statements or insurance documentation depending on the account type.

What's Changed Recently

A couple of developments are worth keeping in mind as you work through a loved one's financial accounts in 2026.

Federal estate tax exemption increase. The Working Families Tax Cuts Act, signed into law on July 4, 2025, raised the federal estate tax basic exclusion amount to $15 million for 2026. For most families, the estate will not owe federal estate tax, but the process of closing accounts, notifying institutions, and distributing funds still applies regardless of estate size.

Online-only bank accounts. As more people bank exclusively through digital platforms, locating all of a loved one's accounts has become more difficult. Unlike traditional banks, online-only institutions, such as Ally, Chime, Marcus by Goldman Sachs, and SoFi, may not send paper statements, making it harder for executors and family members to even know an account exists. Reviewing a loved one's email inbox for bank confirmation emails or e-statements, tax returns (which often include Form 1099-INT from interest-bearing accounts), and browser-saved or password-manager credentials can help find bank accounts of a deceased parent that might otherwise be overlooked during estate settlement.

FAQ

What documents do I need to close a bank account after someone dies?

You'll need a certified death certificate, the deceased's account information, and valid government-issued ID. Depending on the bank and account type, Chase, Wells Fargo, and Bank of America may also request current bank statements, a court appointment of executor, or insurance documentation, so gathering these before you call can save a second trip.

Joint bank account vs. sole account after death: what actually happens to the money?

A joint account with rights of survivorship passes directly to the surviving account holder and skips probate entirely. A sole account freezes when the bank is notified and stays frozen until the executor provides the required documentation and the bank verifies their authority. This is a process that can take anywhere from hours to several weeks depending on whether the bank requires an in-person visit or accepts mailed documents.

How do I find online-only bank accounts (Ally, Chime, SoFi) belonging to someone who died?

Start with the deceased's email inbox for confirmation emails or e-statements from digital banks, then check tax returns for Form 1099-INT, which lists interest-bearing accounts by institution. Browser-saved credentials or a password manager can also surface accounts that never generated paper statements. This is a gap that makes locating online-only accounts meaningfully harder than traditional bank accounts.

Will banks like Chase or Bank of America release funds for funeral expenses before probate is complete?

Many banks can release funds to cover immediate expenses like funeral costs before probate concludes, though policies and dollar limits vary by institution and state. Contact the bank directly with the death certificate and funeral home invoice to ask about their specific policy. There is no universal rule, so the answer depends on where the account is held.

Can Elayne help locate and close bank accounts that are part of a deceased person's estate?

Elayne's Verified Asset Search surfaces financial accounts, including dormant or forgotten ones, by scanning tax returns, bank statements, and financial records to identify which institutions hold estate assets. For subscription and recurring charges, Elayne manages cancellation directly with providers and monitors subsequent statements to confirm charges have stopped, logging each confirmation for estate accounting.

In Conclusion

During the grieving process, even a step like closing a bank account can carry real weight. Breaking the process into smaller parts can help make it more manageable.

You may also want to look into a service like Elayne. Elayne can take care of many tasks for you, handling calls, paperwork, and follow-ups. We're experts at helping people manage the complexities of estates and financial institutions, and our compassionate, human team is always there to offer support, so you can focus on what matters most during a difficult time.

Contact us.

{{blog-cta-financial}}