Bank Account holder passed away

For most estates, you’ll need

• A copy of the death certificate
• For executors, a copy of the Court-official Letter of Administration or Letters of Testamentary, dated within the last 2 years
  • You may be able to settle with a notarized Affidavit for Collection of Personal Property or Small Estate Affidavit. Please refer to your state-specific guidelines.

• A copy of the Letter of Instruction for each executor and/or beneficiary

  • Co-executors may send in one Letter of Instruction, if they wish, signed by both parties

• A copy of the death certificate

• If you are not a named beneficiary, you may be able to settle with a notarized Affidavit for Collection of Personal Property or Small Estate Affidavit.

Please refer to the state law(s) or probate court where the deceased resided.

• A copy of the Letter of Instruction (attached) for each beneficiary or heir

Note: Some states and accounts may require additional documentation. Please refer to the FAQ page for more information.

You can email the documents to bankestateoperations@capitalone.com or fax them to 1-855-786-2690.

Please make sure your cover sheet is attached to each email you send or in front of any documents you fax. If emailing, make sure the subject line of your email contains your case number. This will ensure prompt addition of documents to your case for processing. Also, please ensure documents are submitted as

attachments to your email. 

You may also need

• The executor’s authorization to release information to your law firm (if you choose to communicate through an attorney)

• Account-specific forms for Trusts

• Additional documentation to settle accounts with Minor titling or beneficiaries

• If the customer lived in New Jersey, we will also need

  • A notarized L-8 form 

  • An Inheritance Tax Waiver if the L-8 form does not apply

Beneficiaries are only recognized if the decedent officially recorded the designated beneficiary with Capital One prior to their death. Beneficiaries are entitled to receive the balance of the available funds without waiting for the release of the estate by a probate judge or administrator.

The first step is to call us at 1-877-357-5659 during our regular business hours, Mon.–Fri., 8:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. ET to obtain a case number. Within a few days, you will receive a cover sheet and packet of information via email. Once you have your cover sheet and case number, documents can be submitted through email or fax.

Email: bankestateoperations@capitalone.com

Fax: 1-855-786-2690

Please make sure your cover sheet is attached to each email you send or in front of any documents you fax. If emailing, make sure the subject line of your email contains your case number. This will ensure prompt addition of documents to your case for processing. Also, please ensure documents are submitted as attachments to your email.

If you have not yet notified Capital One of the customer’s passing, please call 1-877-357-5659 during our regular business hours, Mon.–Fri., 8:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. ET. Your case number and cover sheet will then be provided to you via email.

Typically, these documents are provided by the probate court, but please check with an attorney.

• U.S. court-issued documentation is required to collect funds. Foreign country estate documentation will not be accepted for distribution of funds. 
• For decedents who were residents of the U.S. but passed away in a foreign country, you must provide a Consular Report of Death of an American Citizen Abroad from the U.S. consulate or embassy where the death occurred.

Email and fax are the quickest ways to get in contact with us and ensure the addition of documents to your case. Please note that physical mail will add additional processing time.

If you must mail us your documents, you can remit documents to:

Capital One
Attn: Bank By Mail - Bank Estate Operations
PO Box 85123 
Richmond, VA 23285 

Please only submit copies; original documents will not be returned.

It depends on the complexity of the documents and accounts owned by the deceased. The best way to ensure that your case closes as quickly as possible is to make sure all necessary documents are submitted at the beginning of the case.

Joint accounts with deceased joint owners are transitioned to single/sole account ownership of the living joint owner. Depending on the account type, you may need to update a signature card in a branch.

Government overpayments are federal benefit payments made into the account after the date of death, such as Social Security, Veterans Benefits or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). As the deceased is no longer eligible for or able to receive the payment, Capital One is legally obligated to return payments made after the date of death to the government entity that remitted the payment. If you believe you are still eligible for the payment, you must contact the government agency responsible for the benefit to have them start issuing the payment in your name.

Small estate affidavits are an alternative to a full formal probate of an estate. They may be available to family members when the decedent’s assets are under a certain statutory dollar amount.It’s best to check with the probate court for your state or consult with an attorney.

Unfortunately, Capital One can’t determine the validity of a will. A will must be probated by the Court and an estate representative appointed by the Court. Where there are no beneficiaries on the account, we will only take instructions about a deceased person’s accounts from the Court-appointed legal representative

No, we can only settle accounts through the issuance of checks in the name of the Estate or beneficiaries on the account.

Yes, validated executors or affiants can request a Date of Death Balance Letter, which states the balances of the accounts held by the deceased at the time of death. POD and ITF beneficiaries aren’t entitled to request a Date of Death Balance Letter. Please either indicate this in the comments section of the Letter of Instruction or send us an email with your case number in the subject line.

Any necessary tax forms will be sent to the decedent representative’s address at the end of the fiscal year. If you need statements, please indicate this in the comment field of the Letter of Instruction or send us an email with your case number in the subject line.  

Bank Accounts:
1-877-357-5659, during our regular business hours, Mon.–Fri., 8:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. ET.
 
If you already have a case number, email your questions to bankestateoperations@capitalone.com. Include your case number in the subject line.

See below for more information regarding Credit Cards or Auto Loans

Depending on the type of account and the individual circumstances, the requirements to settle each account may be different. Additionally, you can contact those teams if you have any questions about those accounts and settlements at:
 

Credit Card Accounts:

1-877-357-5659, during our regular business hours, Mon.–Fri., 8:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. ET.

Auto Loan Accounts:

1-800-946-0332 (Live customer support available Mon.-Fri., 9:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. ET)

Small Business Accounts:

1-888-755-2171, during our regular business hours, Mon.-Fri. 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.