Bank Accounts

What is to be done with bank accounts after a death varies regionally. In some regions, bank accounts are automatically frozen after a death. Each bank will have their own policies and procedures concerning the banking affairs of someone who has passed away. To avoid any complications, the bank should be notified immediately, and you should find out the procedures for releasing these funds, and how to set up a new account for funds received after the death, if required. It’s recommended that a joint account stay open for at least six months to allow you to deposit any cheques that are made out to the deceased. To take a name off a joint bank account, banks require a Certified Copy of a Death Certificate. If the deceased had a safety deposit box in a bank, the contents can be sealed after death and a Certified Copy of a Death Certificate will be required to gain access to the contents.