What happens to Marriott Bonvoy points when the owner dies
Marriott International has a formal process for transferring points after an account holder dies
Marriott Bonvoy Customer Service
Marriott International, 1818 N. 90th St., Omaha NE 68114, USA (the US and Canada "Write or Fax Us" address published on the Loyalty Customer Support page; general customer correspondence, not an estates intake)
Deceased Member Account request (Contact Us form topic "Deceased Member Account")
Marriott publishes no processing timeline and no submission deadline for a deceased-member points transfer. The Terms say only that the transfer "will be processed upon the Company's receipt and review of the required documentation," at Marriott's sole discretion. The clocks that do run are in the points expiry policy: an account inactive for 24 consecutive months forfeits all accumulated points, and an account inactive for five consecutive years may be deactivated.
Marriott International offers a process for transferring Marriott Bonvoy points to family members after the account holder dies.
How to request a transfer
Follow these steps to initiate a transfer of Marriott Bonvoy points after the account holder's death:
- •Choose "Deceased Member Account" from the topic dropdown. Marriott notes that the option is not shown to anyone who is not signed in.
- •Give the deceased member's name and account number, if known, along with the recipient's own account details.
- •After the initial submission, Marriott emails a secure link for uploading the supporting documents.
- •An original or certified copy of the death certificate
- •The will of the deceased, or an official statement from an attorney or executor affirming the recipient is the legal heir (the Terms describe this as an attorney's attestation that there is no will)
- •A marriage certificate, if the requestor is the legal spouse and heirship rests on the marriage
- •Two forms of legal identification for the recipient, such as a driver's license or passport
- •The recipient's Marriott Bonvoy account number
- •Every document in English, or with a certified English translation
Required Documents
- Original or certified copy of the death certificate of the deceased member
- The deceased member's will, or an official statement from an attorney or executor affirming the recipient is the legal heir (the Terms describe this as an attorney's attestation that there is no will)
- Marriage certificate, if the requestor is the legal spouse and heirship rests on the marriage
- Two forms of legal identification for the recipient, such as a driver's license or passport, with sensitive identification numbers redacted
- Deceased member's Marriott Bonvoy account number, if known
- Recipient's Marriott Bonvoy account number (the account must have been open at least 30 days with qualifying activity, or 90 days without)
- A certified English translation of any document not in English
Timeline
Marriott publishes no processing timeline and no submission deadline for a deceased-member points transfer. The Terms say only that the transfer "will be processed upon the Company's receipt and review of the required documentation," at Marriott's sole discretion. The clocks that do run are in the points expiry policy: an account inactive for 24 consecutive months forfeits all accumulated points, and an account inactive for five consecutive years may be deactivated.
Frequently asked questions
Under Section 1.6.c.ii of the Loyalty Program Terms, Marriott "may, in its sole discretion, allow a one-time transfer of unredeemed Points from the deceased Member's Account to a single recipient, who must be either the legal spouse or named in the deceased Member's will as the intended recipient" of the points. The request requires an original or certified copy of the death certificate, the will or an official statement from an attorney or executor affirming the recipient is the legal heir, a marriage certificate if the requestor is the spouse, and two forms of legal identification for the recipient. Awards, hotel stays, Elite Membership Status, Lifetime Membership Status, Elite Night Credits, and points already converted into airline miles do not transfer.
No. The Loyalty Program Terms state that the Loyalty Program, Points, and Awards "are the sole property of the Company, and are not the property of Members," so the points are not an estate asset and cannot be transferred into the estate. What the Terms do allow is a one-time, discretionary transfer of unredeemed points to a single qualifying survivor — the legal spouse, or the person named in the will as the intended recipient of the loyalty program points. Split transfers are not permitted, and Marriott decides each request.
Through the Contact Us form on marriott.com. Marriott's deceased-member article directs the recipient to sign in to their own Marriott Bonvoy account, select "Deceased Member Account" from the topic dropdown, and give the deceased member's name and account number along with their own account details. Marriott notes that the "Deceased Member Account" topic is not shown to anyone who is not signed in. After the initial submission, Marriott emails a secure link for uploading the supporting documents, and asks that sensitive identification numbers be concealed or redacted first. The sign-in is the recipient's own account — an executor should never sign in as the deceased member.
Marriott publishes no deadline for submitting a deceased-member transfer request and no processing timeline. The clocks that do run are in the points expiry policy: an account inactive for 24 consecutive months forfeits all accumulated points, and an account inactive for five consecutive years may be deactivated. Marriott also retains sole discretion over whether to approve a transfer, so the request is best submitted promptly with copies kept of everything sent.
No. Elite Membership Status (Silver, Gold, Platinum, Titanium, or Ambassador), Lifetime Membership Status, Elite Night Credits, awards, and hotel stay benefits do not transfer to the recipient of the deceased member's points. Marriott also names partner miles as non-transferable: points already converted into an airline frequent flyer program cannot be moved back or transferred on. Only unredeemed points are eligible for the deceased-member transfer.
Under the Terms, only the legal spouse or a person named in the deceased member's will as the intended recipient of loyalty program points. Marriott's help article accepts, in place of the will, an official statement from an attorney or executor affirming that the recipient is the legal heir. The recipient must have their own Marriott Bonvoy account, open at least 30 days with qualifying activity or 90 days without, and the points can go to only one account — split transfers are not permitted.
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 Marriott International primary sources (8 pages reviewed). How we research.
Marriott Bonvoy Customer Service
Marriott International, 1818 N. 90th St., Omaha NE 68114, USA (the US and Canada "Write or Fax Us" address published on the Loyalty Customer Support page; general customer correspondence, not an estates intake)
Deceased Member Account request (Contact Us form topic "Deceased Member Account")
Marriott publishes no processing timeline and no submission deadline for a deceased-member points transfer. The Terms say only that the transfer "will be processed upon the Company's receipt and review of the required documentation," at Marriott's sole discretion. The clocks that do run are in the points expiry policy: an account inactive for 24 consecutive months forfeits all accumulated points, and an account inactive for five consecutive years may be deactivated.
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