Letters
Say it once, on paper
Drafts filled from the ledger. Review them with counsel before you mail a creditor notice or anything that could be filed. Copy, print, then edit. Not a court form.
Ask them to flag the account and tell you what they need next.
[Your name]
[Your address]
[Phone] · [Email]
October 24, 2026
[Institution name]
[Address or department]
To whom it may concern:
I am writing to notify you of the death of [Full legal name], who died on [date of death].
Please flag the account as belonging to a deceased customer, stop any debit cards and online access, and tell me in writing:
1. Whether the account is individual or joint
2. What documents you require to freeze, retitle, or close it
3. Whether any automatic payments are still scheduled
4. Who I should speak with going forward
I am the executor. I can provide a certified death certificate and, when issued, letters testamentary. Please do not close a checking account that still pays the household bills until we have a plan for those payments.
I would rather get this right than get it fast. A written list of your requirements is enough.
Sincerely,
[Your name], executor of the estate