Rule: (a) Upon the death of an accountholder, the FDIC will insure the deceased owner's accounts as if he or she were still alive for six months after his or her death.
The bank needs to be notified of the accountholder's passing as soon as possible, as any bank accounts of the deceased remain active until the bank is notified of the death. This typically entails providing the original Death Certificate for verification purposes and the Will, if one is available.
How to Find the Bank Accounts of a Deceased Person Search Their Home and Mail. Visit Banks in Their Area. Call Their Employer. Search Online Databases. Consult With an Experienced Probate Attorney.
"The surviving owner will be able to withdraw funds from the account," says David Doehring, probate attorney and managing partner of Doehring & Doehring Attorneys at Law. If the account has a payable on death beneficiary, the bank account balance goes to the beneficiary after the last account owner dies.
You can search online for your state's unclaimed property department, or you can start with FDIC's unclaimed property information. If you find your missing property, you can file a claim with the state, but don't be surprised if they ask you to prove your identity in order to claim it.
Visit Banks in Their Area You will need to provide documentation to prove both that the account holder died and you have the legal authority (as a designated beneficiary, joint account holder or executor/administrator) to access the account.
Since payable-on-death accounts (PODs) and transfer-on-death accounts (TODs) must designate a beneficiary, they are not subject to the California probate process. The payable-on-death beneficiary can claim the bank account proceeds by going to the bank with a copy of the death certificate and proof of identification.
How to Find the Bank Accounts of a Deceased Person Search Their Home and Mail. Visit Banks in Their Area. Call Their Employer. Search Online Databases. Consult With an Experienced Probate Attorney.