How to Open an Estate Bank Account in California
The bank froze your loved one’s account. Here is how an executor can open an estate bank account in California and the four documents to bring to the bank.
The four documents to bring
- Certified Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration
- Certified death certificate
- EIN confirmation letter for the estate
- Your government-issued photo ID
When someone dies, individual accounts are typically frozen. The estate is a separate legal entity, so the personal representative should obtain an EIN from the IRS and open an account titled in the estate’s name.
Ask for date-of-death statements before closing old accounts; they support the Inventory and Appraisal, Form DE-160. Joint accounts and payable-on-death accounts may pass directly to the surviving owner or named beneficiary instead of through probate.
Never mix estate funds with personal funds, and document every transaction. For Los Angeles probate real-estate guidance, contact Eric Baskett at (310) 807-6879. This page is educational information only, not legal or tax advice.