When a loved one passes away
We’re sorry for your loss and know this is a difficult time. We have a dedicated team called the Estate Care Center that
will guide you through the process and help you understand what happens next with Wells Fargo accounts. Since every
situation is unique, consider consulting an attorney, tax professional, or trusted advisor for assistance.
Documents you may need for account closure or changes
Below are the common documents needed to close or change accounts. Other documents may be needed depending on
the state in which the accounts were opened or state of residence. The Estate Care Center team will help you understand
any documents your specific situation requires.
Note: The time it takes to release funds can vary based on the specifics of the account, the complexity of the estate,
and the rules of the state where the account was opened and/or where the account owner lived. In general, we will begin
to process a request as soon as we receive the necessary documents and have validated the representative is entitled to
act on behalf of the deceased customer.
Account Type
Account Definition/Scenario
Required Documents
Sole-owned
Accounts owned by one individual
who has passed away
Death Certificate
One of the following is
required if no beneficiary is
named on the account
o
Probate documentation, most
commonly a court-issued
document appointing an
executor/administrator
o
Small estate affidavit in
accordance with state laws
Court order
Payable on Death
Accounts that have beneficiaries
Death Certificate
Transfer on Death
who are designated by the owner(s)
of the account to receive the
balance of funds when the last
owner on the account passes away
Joint-owned
Accounts jointly owned with a
deceased owner (most of these
bank accounts carry automatic
rights of survivorship, which means
the joint owner will have full access
to the funds)
Death Certificate is required to
remove the deceased customer from
the account
Trust
Accounts with arrangements to hold
the assets in a trust
Death Certificate
Certification of Trustee
naming a successor trustee
In some circumstances, the section of
the trust agreement that names the
successor trustee(s) is required
Other helpful items to take care of financial accounts
To discuss any accounts your loved one owned, you will need to provide the death certificate and documents listed on the
previous page to identify the role you will have in handling his or her accounts. In some cases, it may also be helpful to
gather some other documents to take care of transactions, such as:
A Will
Vehicle titles
Stock certificates
Insurance Policies
Marriage certificate
Deeds
Documents providing mortgaged
Birth certificates for surviving
Safe deposit box key
property ownership interest
(such
children
as probated will, court order,
deed
Military discharge papers
Social security numbers for
transferring ownership)
surviving beneficiaries
Attorney Representative letter
How to get the process started
Notify us at the Estate Care Center. You can send a copy of the death certificate to us using one of the following:
•
Submit the death certificate online at: wellsfargo.com/help/estate-care-center.
•
Fax a copy to: 1-866-358-1145. Please include an account number or social security number of the deceased.
•
Make an appointment at a Wells Fargo banking location where a branch representative will assist you with the
notification process. To locate a branch near you, visit online at: wellsfargo.com/locator.
You can close or transition deposit accounts via U.S. mail using a notarized Letter of Instruction and the
appropriate documents listed on the previous page. Send the documents via standard U.S. mail to the post
office box listed below. To send these documents via overnight courier, please use the physical address listed
below. Keep in mind overnight mail cannot be received at the post office box.
U.S. Standard Mail: Overnight Mail:
Wells Fargo Bank Wells Fargo Bank
Estate Care Center Estate Care Center
Attn: EDAC MAC D1118-02D Attn: EDAC MAC D1118-02D
PO Box 1245 12301 Vance Davis Drive
Charlotte, NC 28201-1245 Charlotte, NC 28269-7699
Identify any mortgage accounts. Please contact the Life Events Team at 1-877-822-7864 to obtain the Successor in
Interest Data form to complete and return with the additional documentation you have gathered.
For brokerage accounts, contact the advisor on the most recent client statement or call one of the following numbers:
•
WellsTrade 1-866-662-8211
•
Wells Fargo Advisors 1-800-603-1584
For Wells Fargo Private Bank accounts, contact the Relationship Manager on the most recent client statement or call 1-
877-646-8560.
Where possible, review the deceased customer’s deposit and credit accounts. In particular, look for automatic
payments or charges that should be discontinued, deferred, or handled from other resources.
•
There may be a need to establish an account in the name of the estate. You’ll need the original or certified copy of
the appointment letter naming you as the personal representative of the estate along with any additional court-
issued documents and/or Letters of testamentary such as probate court letters, and an EIN obtained from the IRS.
You may wish to consult with an attorney or trusted advisor for assistance.
•
Joint deposit accounts may be retitled to remove the deceased customer.
•
If the deceased customer was actively involved in any businesses, those entities may need to be reviewed as part of
the estate-settlement process.
Identify any potential safe deposit boxes. If there is a surviving lessee (someone who currently has access to the box),
they can visit the Wells Fargo branch with identification and the key to take care of any belongings held in the safe
deposit box. If the lessee does not have a key, there may be a drilling fee.
•
If there is no surviving lessee, an estate representative can visit a Wells Fargo branch, and a banker can help
determine what we need to grant them access to the safe deposit box.
When a customer receives federal benefits to their account, any benefit payments received after the customer's death
may be returned to the federal government prior to funds being released and deposit accounts closed. This process is
called reclamation. You may contact the federal agencies for further questions regarding the reclamation process.
•
Department of Veterans Affairs (1-800-827-1000 or va.gov)
•
Social Security Administration (1-800-772-1213 or ssa.gov)
•
Office of Personnel Management (1-888-767-6738 or opm.gov)
•
Railroad Retirement Board (1-877-772-5772 or rrb.gov)
Helpful terms and definitions
Affidavit of domicile or affidavit of residence
A document that verifies where a person resided at the
time of death. It may be needed to transfer ownership of
property or stock into the new owner’s name.
Certification of Trustee
A listing of limited information about the administrative
provisions of a trust, which proves the establishment of a
valid trust.
Certified copy of the death certificate
A copy of the death certificate that has been certified;
typically, this document has a seal that says, “This is a true
and certified copy.” Instead of a seal, these certificates
could feature:
•
An ink or multicolored signature
•
A watermark (printed on security paper)
Joint tenancy with right of survivorship
A type of account ownership where all owners have an
equal right to the account’s assets. When one party dies,
the survivor owns all remaining assets in the account.
Letter of instruction
Any written document from a designated owner,
successor, or court-appointed representative of the
estate, providing specific instructions on how to distribute
the remaining money in any accounts, and what to do with
the accounts (such as close accounts) after disbursement.
Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration
These are issued by the court and name a representative,
typically an executor or administrator, who will manage
the assets and liabilities of the estate, as designated in the
will (or, if there is no will, by state law). These may also be
known as:
•
Letters of personal representative
•
Fiduciary letters
•
Certified executor documents
Payable on death (POD) – Beneficiary
A beneficiary designated by the account owner. The
surviving beneficiary will receive any money left in the
account upon proof of the owner’s death. Sometimes
these are referred to as In Trust for (ITF) accounts.
Power of Attorney (POA)
A POA is a written authorization by which a person (called
the Principal) can appoint another person (called an Agent
or Attorney-in-Fact) to act on their behalf on financial
affairs or a legal matter. Note: The POA agreement
automatically terminates upon death of the principal.
Small Estate Affidavit
In some states, this document can be used to claim or
disburse money from estates of limited size, where formal
probate is not required under state law. The state law will
specify the asset value that qualifies as a “small estate”
and requirements for the affidavit.
Tenants in common
A type of account where each owner owns a separate and
distinct share of property. Unlike joint tenancy, these
shares can be freely transferred to other owners, and there
is no right of survivorship among owners.
Transfer on death (TOD) – Beneficiary
A feature of a non-retirement investment account that
allows the owner to designate a beneficiary. When the
account owner dies, the account assets are transferred
directly to the beneficiary without going to probate.
Trust
A legal arrangement involving three parties: the party
creating the trust (grantor), the party administering the
property within the trust’s terms (trustee), and the party
for whom the trust is administered (beneficiary).
Uniform Transfers to Minors Act (UTMA) or
Uniform Gifts to Minors Act (UGMA)
The umbrella acts under which custodial accounts for
minors are set up. The custodian of the account should
transfer control of the assets to a minor when he or she
reaches the age specified by statute (usually between the
ages of 18 and 21).
© 2023 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. Member FDIC.
The content of this document is for informational purposes only, may not address all scenarios or requirements, and is not intended as legal or tax advice. We recommend you consult with a legal or
tax professional to confirm requirements specifically applicable to your loved one’s estate and other assets.
Investment and Insurance Products are:
•
Not Insured by the FDIC or Any Federal Government Agency
•
Not a Deposit or Other Obligation of, or guaranteed by, the Bank or Any Bank Affiliate
•
Subject toInvestment Risks, Including Possible Loss of the Principal Amount Invested
Investment products and services are offered through Wells Fargo Advisors. Wells Fargo Advisors is a trade name used
by Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC (WFCS) and Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, LLC, Members SIPC, separate
registered broker-dealers and non-bank affiliates of Wells Fargo & Company.
WellsTrade
®
brokerage accounts are offered through WFCS.
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. is a bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company
Information published by Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Wells Fargo Advisors, or one of its affiliates as part of this website is
published in the United States and is intended only for persons in the United States.
The Private Bank is an experience level for qualifying clients of Wells Fargo Wealth & Investment Management (WIM). WIM
offers financial products and services through affiliates of Wells Fargo & Company. Bank products and services are available
through Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Member FDIC.
WellsTrade
®
and Intuitive Investor
®
accounts are offered through WFCS.
© 2023 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. Member FDIC.
The content of this document is for informational purposes only, may not address all scenarios or requirements, and is not intended as legal or tax advice. We recommend you consult with a legal or
tax professional to confirm requirements specifically applicable to your loved one’s estate and other assets.
