What happens to Capital One Miles when someone dies

Account holders have no property right in unredeemed rewards, so the miles themselves are not inherited; their cash value reaches the estate through the credit to the account.¹

Unredeemed rewards are not in any circumstances considered abandoned, reportable or escheatable under the unclaimed property laws of any U.S. or foreign state or territory.¹

The rewards disposition is tied to death notification rather than to a waiting period: the remaining balance is applied as a credit at the point Capital One learns of the death.¹

Capital One cannot transfer ownership of an existing credit card and make an authorized user or account manager the primary account holder; a survivor who needs a card applies for their own.²

On account closure Capital One may apply the rewards balance to any credit balance owed, and if that leaves a positive balance on the account, a refund check is mailed.¹

The standard cash redemption rate is below what the same miles carry through the Capital One Travel portal or an airline or hotel partner transfer, so a balance left in the account at death settles for less than its travel value.¹

Only the primary or secondary account holders listed on the account are responsible for the outstanding balance, so an authorized user is not made liable by the card.²

The Estates packet settles accounts only through checks in the name of the estate or the beneficiaries on the account, rather than by transfer to another Capital One account or an outside bank.³

Validated executors, administrators and affiants can request a Date of Death Balance Letter for balances as of the date of death; payable-on-death and in-trust-for beneficiaries are not entitled to request it.³

Capital One applies a standardized rewards rule at death, not a case-by-case review.¹

After notification Capital One researches the case, and a dedicated Estates specialist may ask for additional information.²

Settling a deceased customer's Capital One deposit accounts; notarized, one for each executor or beneficiary.^{3, 4}

Completed by each executor or beneficiary. Available to download.

Capital One deposit accounts, settled with the notarized Letter of Instruction packet^{4, 3}

A deceased customer's Capital One auto loan^{4, 3}

A deceased customer's Capital One small business bank accounts^{4, 3}

Discover cards other than a Discover by Capital One card, and all other Discover accounts^{5, 3}

Discover checking and savings accounts^{5, 3}

Discover personal loans^{5, 3}

A separate Capital One estates contact form, not the Estates Servicing submission channel⁶