Before closing accounts

Before closing the deceased accounts, you'll need to review what accounts the deceased had.

The accounts you find will each need to be considered for the best approach to closing them.

Different kinds of accounts will be treated differently.

You may wish to transfer rather than close accounts like a cell phone family plan.

Some accounts can be closed immediately, like magazine subscriptions and gym memberships.

Some accounts, like bank accounts without beneficiaries, should be left open to be handled as part of the estate's probate process.

Also, different service providers will have to different procedures and documentation requirements for closing a deceased's accounts.

Read More For more information on paying the deceased's bills and debts, see the "Pay the estate's bills, debts, and taxes" section of the Guide.