Can I Find Out About a Deceased Person's Bank Account?
It is an unpleasant fact of life that people die, and when they do, it is left to the living to manage the deceased's finances. Not everyone leaves clear information on their financial accounts, however, and you may need to piece together a financial picture from available records. A person's bank account may be frozen after death while the estate is settled. However, you can find out about a deceased person's bank account through a variety of sources.
Other People Are Reading
-
Estate Records
-
A deceased person's property and finances -- his estate -- are managed by a trustee designated in a will or by a state entity, such as probate court, if no trustee has been identified. Estate records generally include information about bank accounts. Contact the county clerk in the county where the deceased live to identify who is managing the deceased's estate.
Tax Records
-
The deceased person's tax filings generally include interest statements or other information identifying bank accounts. Individuals with authority over the deceased's estate can obtain copies of the deceased's tax transcripts directly from the Internal Revenue Service.
-
Mail
-
Even though a person has passed on, his mail keeps arriving, including bank statements. If you have access to incoming mail, keep alert for documents from banks that can identify account information.
Unclaimed Accounts
-
Banks report to state governments about accounts that have been abandoned as indicated by a lack of activity for several years. Information about these unclaimed accounts is publicly available from state agencies that manage such accounts. Most states have online tools where you can search for unclaimed accounts by entering the name of the deceased.
-
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Creatas/Creatas/Getty Images
