Estate planning as a Amex Rewards account holder

American Express Membership Rewards is one of the most valuable transferable points currencies, earned on Amex Platinum, Gold, Green, and select business cards. Points transfer to a roster of airline and hotel loyalty partners and can be redeemed for travel, statement credits, gift cards, and purchases at select merchants. Membership Rewards points have no expiration dates, though the Terms describe several circumstances in which they are lost. The Membership Rewards Terms state that points "don't belong to you and are not your property" and that you "can't pass them on as part of a legal action, such as a divorce, an inheritance or bankruptcy." The Terms carry one death-specific exception: the executor of the estate or personal representative may be able to make a one-time points redemption, depending on the Product.

When a Amex Rewards account holder dies, their points may be transferred to a designated person at American Express's sole discretion. A transfer is not guaranteed, and satisfactory documentation is required before processing any request.

What happens at death

Under the current Membership Rewards Terms and Conditions (Last Updated: September 2026), points "don't belong to you and are not your property"; you cannot transfer them to someone else's Rewards Account, sell them, or pass them on as part of a legal action such as a divorce, an inheritance, or bankruptcy. In the Lose Points section the Terms state: "When we cancel your Product: If we cancel any of your Products for any reason (including your death, insolvency or bankruptcy), you'll lose all the points in your Rewards Account." Three exceptions follow, the first of which is the death exception: "The executor of your estate or personal representative may be able to make a one-time points redemption upon your death, depending on your Product, by calling 1-800-AXP-EARN (297-3276)." A footnote on the forfeiture sentence adds that New York Card Members (a Card Member with a New York billing address on a linked Card Account) can continue to use points in that scenario for 90 days by calling the number on the back of the Card. Separately, American Express publishes a deceased-cardmember process on its Guidance for Managing Deceased Accounts page: anyone may notify Amex of the passing of a Card Member by calling 1-800-266-7064 (Mon-Fri, 8:00 am to 10:00 pm EST; Corporate Cards 1-888-297-3947, Mon-Fri 8:00 am to 8:00 pm EST). That page also publishes an account-takeover path: a person appointed by a will or court order, or handling the decedent's affairs, may request that the account be cancelled or, if eligible, apply to become the new Basic Card Member, which requires the Card to be eligible for transfer, the account not to be closed for more than 1 year, the account not to be 30 days or more past due, and the applicant to pass a credit review. Amex states that no person is obligated to take over the account, "as the Estate or the Business of the deceased Card Member bears ultimate responsibility for the account."

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