What happens to Hilton Honors points when the owner dies
Hilton Worldwide has a formal process for transferring points after an account holder dies
Hilton Honors
Hilton Honors deceased Member point transfers
The transfer request and required documents must be provided within one year from the date of the Member's death. Hilton states that the receiving Member(s) will receive the transferred points within five business days of Hilton's receipt and approval of the completed documentation and information requested. Each transfer request is processed individually, so a split among several recipients means several separate submissions.
Hilton Worldwide offers a process for transferring Hilton Honors points to family members after the account holder dies.
How to request a transfer
Here is the process for transferring Hilton Honors points after the account holder dies:
- •The completed Declaration in Support of Request for Transfer of Deceased Member's Hilton Honors Points (the Declaration form)
- •A copy of the deceased Member's death certificate — Hilton states a certified copy is not required
- •An official document establishing the legal authority of the individual over the deceased Member's estate
- •The deceased Member's name, Hilton Honors account number, and date of death
- •An affirmation that the signer is the executor or administrator of the Member or the Member's estate with full legal authority to dispose of the estate, as stated on an attached court order or appointment
- •The name and Hilton Honors account number of the Member who is to receive the points
- •The signer's printed name, street address, city, state, ZIP, telephone number, and email address
Required Documents
- Completed Declaration in Support of Request for Transfer of Deceased Member's Hilton Honors Points
- Copy of the deceased Member's death certificate (Hilton states a certified copy is not required)
- Official document establishing the legal authority of the individual over the deceased Member's estate, such as the court order or appointment referenced on the Declaration form
- The deceased Member's Hilton Honors account number and the account number of each receiving Member
Timeline
The transfer request and required documents must be provided within one year from the date of the Member's death. Hilton states that the receiving Member(s) will receive the transferred points within five business days of Hilton's receipt and approval of the completed documentation and information requested. Each transfer request is processed individually, so a split among several recipients means several separate submissions.
Frequently asked questions
Hilton publishes a deceased-Member transfer process in its Terms and Conditions and in a help-center article. The deceased Member's points can be transferred to another Hilton Honors Member or Members upon Hilton's receipt and approval of the required documentation: a completed Declaration form, a copy of the death certificate (a certified copy is not required), and an official document establishing legal authority over the estate, emailed to priorityletter@hilton.com within one year of the date of death. No fee is charged, and Hilton states the receiving Member is credited within five business days of its receipt and approval of complete documentation.
No. The Terms state that accrued points do not constitute property of the Members and that, except as specifically provided in the Terms, they are not transferable for any reason or by operation of law. The deceased-Member carve-out moves points only to another living Hilton Honors Member, not to the estate. An executor with legal authority over the estate signs the request, but the points are credited to the named Member's account.
Any Hilton Honors Member who already has an existing account. Hilton states that a new account cannot be created just to receive these points, so an executor cannot open one after the death. Points can be transferred to multiple Members with no minimum or maximum number of points per transfer, but each transfer request is processed individually, so a separate submission is required for each recipient.
The transfer request and required documents must be provided within one year from the date of the Member's death. No fee is charged. Hilton states that transfers are made within the sole discretion of the Hilton Honors team and that any decision it makes in response to a request is final and not subject to further review or dispute.
No. Hilton states that Elite Tier Status, nights, stays, and Eligible Spend cannot be transferred, and that points received through a transfer do not count toward the receiving Member's Elite Tier Status. Only the raw points move, and the recipient redeems them under their own tier.
The recipient can use transferred points under the program's normal terms. Keeping the deceased account holder's account number and contact details on file simplifies this process for the executor or surviving family.
Sources
Data sourced from Hilton Worldwide primary sources (7 pages reviewed). How we research.
Hilton Honors
Hilton Honors deceased Member point transfers
The transfer request and required documents must be provided within one year from the date of the Member's death. Hilton states that the receiving Member(s) will receive the transferred points within five business days of Hilton's receipt and approval of the completed documentation and information requested. Each transfer request is processed individually, so a split among several recipients means several separate submissions.
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