Account access after death: how to take care of it

You can only get account access after a death if you are an heir. However, it is possible to have the account blocked or frozen.

Account access after a death

After the death of a loved one, there is a lot for the bereaved to organize in addition to coping with grief. It is not possible for the survivors to access the account of the deceased unless they are registered as an heir. However, they can have the bank block or freeze the account.

• First and foremost, find out which bank the deceased had accounts with and inform them.

• For this, you will usually need to provide the death certificate and give your information such as name, address and phone number.

• Now request that the account be blocked or frozen so that no new transactions can be undertaken.

• With standing orders and recurring debits, it’s a little more complicated. You can also notify the bank to stop them, but would also need to make sure that all of the deceased family member’s outstanding bills and obligations continue to be serviced to avoid problems.

• So you should seek advice from a lawyer or an attorney or a tax advisor before contacting the bank. This way you can make sure that you meet all the legal requirements and take care of everything important.

What should you continue to block?

Among the many steps that come your way as a survivor is the blocking of other accounts. Especially those that make monthly debits should be blocked or cancelled as soon as possible.

• So try to find out where the deceased had accounts. For older people, these are often magazine or newspaper subscriptions, as well as Internet and telephone contracts.

• For many people, streaming platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, DAZN, Spotify, Joyn, Sky Ticket, Disney+ and more are often added to the mix. Unfortunately, it is often difficult to find out what the deceased signed up for here, as many contracts are signed up for online and will not be found in the records.

• To cancel subscriptions, contact the respective provider’s customer service department report the user’s death. Usually you will need to provide a death certificate, sometimes from a birth certificate. You may also need to provide a power of attorney, a certificate of inheritance, or proof that you are one or a dependent.

• Further, you can have social media accounts of the deceased deleted or, like Facebook, placed in a memorial state. Find out if there were accounts on Instagram, Linkedin, etc.

• Also contact customer service and submit the appropriate documentation.