Do I need a death certificate for every account?

Many organizations accept a certified copy and return it, or accept a scan. Ask before ordering a large number of copies.

Can I close an account before probate?

Sometimes, depending on the account type, its value and local rules. Banks will tell you what threshold applies to them.

What if I do not have authority yet?

You can usually still report the death and freeze activity. Full closure or transfer normally waits until authority is confirmed.

How to close accounts after someone dies

Closing accounts is a repetitive job rather than a difficult one. Each organization wants proof of the death, proof of who you are, and proof that you are entitled to act. Once you have those three things assembled, the rest is a queue, and it is much easier if you work through it in order of financial impact rather than alphabetically.

The short version

01Gather the proof pack onceDeath certificate copies, your own ID, and any document showing your authority to act on the estate.
02Stop money leaving firstRecurring payments, subscriptions and autopay on accounts that no longer need to run.
03Contact banks and card issuersMost have a dedicated bereavement team. Joint accounts and sole accounts are handled very differently.
04Deal with utilities and household servicesTransfer rather than close if someone still lives in the property.
05Handle insurance and pensionsSome are claims rather than closures, check before cancelling anything.
06Work through online and digital accountsEmail last, since it is often the recovery route for everything else.
07Keep a record of every contactDate, reference number and outcome. You will be asked to repeat yourself and this is what saves you.

Do these early

Anything that keeps charging, and anything that risks a lapse. Card autopay, streaming and app subscriptions, gym memberships, and any insurance on a property that must stay in force.

Bank accounts are not all the same

A joint account, a sole account, an account with a payable-on-death designation and a business account are each handled differently, and the differences are set by local law and by the bank's own policy. Ask the bank's bereavement team what they need before sending documents.

Do not cancel what should be claimed

Life insurance, pensions, annuities and some employer benefits are claims, not cancellations. Cancelling first can complicate or forfeit a payment. If you are unsure, pause and ask.

Email and phone go last

They are the recovery channel for almost everything else, and closing a phone number early can lock you out of two-factor codes for months.

Common questions

Do I need a death certificate for every account?: Many organizations accept a certified copy and return it, or accept a scan. Ask before ordering a large number of copies.
Can I close an account before probate?: Sometimes, depending on the account type, its value and local rules. Banks will tell you what threshold applies to them.
What if I do not have authority yet?: You can usually still report the death and freeze activity. Full closure or transfer normally waits until authority is confirmed.

You don't have to hold all of this in your head.

Tell AndWithYou what happened and we'll turn it into a short, prioritized path, and keep track of the rest as things change.

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