How do I close my deceased parents' checking account?

If you are named as a POD beneficiary on the account, or if you're managing the estate in a probate proceeding, closing the checking account and getting the funds should be fairly easy.

By , J.D. · UC Berkeley School of Law

Question:

My mother and father are both deceased, and neither one left a will. How can I get access to their joint checking account so I can close it?

Answer:

Before the bank turns over the money, it will quite reasonably insist on proof that you have the right to it. There are several ways to produce such proof:

  • Demonstrate that you are the POD beneficiary. If your parents named you, on the form provided by the bank, as the "payable-on-death" (POD) beneficiary of the account, it's simple. You can claim the money by presenting the bank with your parents' death certificates and proof of your identity.
  • Present Letters of Administration. If you are conducting a probate court proceeding, then you'll have written authorization (usually called Letters of Administration or something similar) from the probate court, which will open doors for you. You can close the account and transfer the funds to the estate bank account.
  • Take advantage of simplified probate procedures. If, under state law, the estate is small enough to qualify for "small estate" procedures instead of regular probate, you might be able to claim the property with a simple affidavit, in which you swear that you are entitled to the money under state law. Or you might be able to use simplified (summary) probate procedures. Your state might offer one or both of these methods.

If you don't qualify to use one of these procedures, or if you're not sure how to proceed, now's a good time to find a probate lawyer for advice.

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