How to close a bank account after the death of a person? (2024)

byAdv. Rupa K.N

3 mins

Introduction

Although closing a bank account after someone passes away can seem frightening, banks often try to make the process as quick and painless as possible.
While every bank differs differently, and why there is a need to close a bank account after death.
If the account was a joint one, it wouldn’t need to be canceled because it will automatically transfer into the sole name of the other account holder after the bank has been notified of the death.
This blog explains what happens to a bank account when someone passes away, how to cancel a bank account following a death, and, if required, what you might need to do to withdraw money before the account is closed.

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Who is the personal representative or nominee?

The person who has passed away, a personal representative, will often be the one too close, to the account if it wasn’t shared.
The executor designated in the will is the personal representative if there is a will.
The administrator of the estate, who is typically also the primary beneficiary, is the personal representative when someone passes away without leaving a will and needs to close a bank account.
Bank administration may undertake the duty in either scenario on behalf of the executor or administrator for closing a bank account after someone’s death.

Documentation Needed for the closing bank account after someone’s death

A copy of the certificate of death from the death record of the state.
Identification, documentation, and verification for the representative managing these accounts.
Letter of Testamentary from the probate court in the deceased’s hometown designating the executor. If no executor was appointed, a request must be made to the probate court, and the court must issue the financial representative with a Letter of Administration.
Accounts-related documents (i.e., bank statements, credit card bills, etc., Adhaar card, Ration Card) are needed for closing a bank account after death.

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Procedure to follow in order to close the bank account after someone’s death

The most important thing you should do to close a financial balance upon the passing of a friend or family member is to inform the bank regarding this demise.
They will request a duplicate of the passing endorsem*nt and will furnish you with specific structures or records required for additional exercises in regard to the record.
You should likewise be given the position to deal with the record to close it.
To have the position to deal with the financial balance of a died individual, you should either be a shared service holder or an agent/overseer.
Normally inside the will, the departed will have named an agent with the power to deal with their monetary records posthumous.
Nonetheless, on the off chance that an agent has not been named, then a chairman should fill in the job.
The court will give a Letter of Testamentary to the agent or a Letter of Organization to the overseer.
The Letter of Organization will carve out an opportunity to get, so to make matters more straightforward; it is suggested that an agent be named inside the will while the will enlistment is occurring during the time spent for closing a bank account after death.
Whenever documentation is endorsed, and authority is allowed, you can then coordinate with the bank on the payment of assets inside the record.
To move cash from the departed’s record to yours or another person’s, you’ll have to give the bank a steering and record number for electronic moving during the time spent shutting financial balance after somebody’s demise.
A named recipient of the record can likewise request a bank check paid straightforwardly to them.
Assume the ledger is a payable-on-death (Unit) account.
A record manager can open an account by finishing and returning a report that the bank will give.
In the event that nothing happens to the ledger after the record proprietor’s passing, the bank and state will contact living beneficiaries to check whether any activities are expected for closing a bank account after death.
In the event that nothing keeps on occurring, the ledger might be viewed as deserted property, and after an extremely significant stretch, all assets go directly to the state for closing a bank account after death.

Taking funds out of the bank account before receiving a grant before closing the bank account after the death

Most banks will nevertheless enable you to use money from the deceased person’s account to pay for some immediate costs associated with settling their estate while you wait for a grant of representation.
These could be using the deceased person’s bank account to cover funeral costs while Closing the bank account after death.
Using the Direct Payment Scheme to pay inheritance tax (find out more here) and paying any court costs while requesting a grant to purchase a tombstone in closing a bank account after death.
Will registration is important, and will registration must be done after taking legal consultation?

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Conclusion

Many issues may need to be resolved once a close friend or family member passes away. Closing bank accounts after the death of a person (such as checking, savings, CDs, etc.) could be one of them, particularly if the money is required to cover funeral costs or to pay off the deceased’s outstanding debts.

In these situations, closing a bank account is not always simple, but it can be done with the proper paperwork. A legal consultation before visiting the bank is a must in cases of closing a bank account after death.

Consult a legal professional for any assistance with respect to any property.

Adv. Rupa K.N

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Advocate Rupa K.N, with over 24 years of independent practice, specialises in providing legal expertise, advice and guidance to a broad range of customers. Having been practising law independently for several years after doing her B.A. LLB from Bangalore University and PGDM from the National Institute of Personnel Management.