Banks & Institutions After a Death

When someone dies, one of the first practical hurdles is dealing with their banks, brokerages, and other financial institutions. Each one has its own process, and most won't release funds or information until you show the right paperwork — usually a certified death certificate and, for probate assets, your Letters (Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration).

The general rule for any institution

Whether it's a bank account, a brokerage account, or a retirement account, how it transfers depends on how it was held:

• Named beneficiary, payable-on-death (POD), or transfer-on-death (TOD): passes directly to the named person, outside probate — usually just a death certificate and a claim form.
• Joint with right of survivorship: passes to the surviving owner automatically.
• In the deceased person's name alone, with no beneficiary: generally a probate asset — the institution will require your Letters from the court before releasing it.

That's why opening probate and obtaining Letters is often the key that unlocks everything else. Our estate bank account guide and Letters guide explain how.

Institution-specific guides

We're building step-by-step guides for the major banks and institutions — what each one requires, the department to contact, and how to claim or transfer an account. In the meantime, the resources below cover what applies everywhere.