What to do when a Apple account holder dies

Contact Apple — 5-step process, 5 required documents, and varies; typically 2-4 weeks after all required documentation is received and verified. pod beneficiary claims may be processed faster.

Apple

Subsidiary of Apple Inc.

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Goldman Sachs Apple Card Support

Mailing Address

Goldman Sachs Bank, Lockbox 6112, P.O. Box 7247, Philadelphia, PA 19170-6112

Goldman Sachs Apple Card Support

Mailing Address

Goldman Sachs Bank, Lockbox 6112, P.O. Box 7247, Philadelphia, PA 19170-6112

Goldman Sachs Apple Card Support (Deceased Accounts)

Mailing Address

Goldman Sachs Bank, Lockbox 6112, P.O. Box 7247, Philadelphia, PA 19170-6112

Verified Jul 2026

What happens to Apple accounts after the account holder dies depends on how each account was titled. Beneficiary-designated and trust-owned accounts transfer directly. Accounts in the deceased's name alone go through the estate, and the executor or administrator works with Apple's Goldman Sachs Apple Card Support (Deceased Accounts) (1-877-255-5923) to claim the funds.

The first step is contacting Apple at 1-877-255-5923 with the account holder's full name, account numbers, and a certified death certificate in hand.

Death claim process

Follow these steps to file a death claim with Apple:

Filing a claim

1
Contact Goldman Sachs Apple Card support at 877-255-5923 to report the account holder's death
2
Determine the appropriate settlement path based on account type:
  • For Apple Savings with named POD beneficiaries: funds transfer to the designated beneficiaries upon verification of the death certificate
  • For Apple Savings without beneficiaries: account balance becomes part of the estate and requires probate documentation
  • For Apple Card (credit card): outstanding balance becomes an obligation of the estate; authorized users and co-owners should stop using the card
  • For Apple Cash: contact Green Dot Bank at (877) 233-8552 or write to P.O. Box 1070, West Chester, OH 45071 with a certified death certificate
3
Submit required documentation including certified death certificate and proof of authority (Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration)
4
Goldman Sachs will close the accounts and distribute funds according to beneficiary designations or estate documentation
5
For Apple Account access (separate from financial accounts): follow the Digital Legacy process at https://support.apple.com/en-us/102431

Required Documents

  • Certified copy of the death certificate
  • Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if no POD beneficiaries)
  • Small Estate Affidavit (if applicable under state law)
  • Government-issued photo ID of the executor, administrator, or beneficiary
  • Proof of authority to act on behalf of the estate

What to know at this institution

Apple Card is a credit card, so outstanding balances become estate obligations rather than assets to distribute. Apple Savings (deposit account) is the asset that transfers via POD beneficiary or through the estate. Apple Cash is a separate product serviced by Green Dot Bank and requires a separate death claim process. The Apple Account (Apple ID) access process is separate and handled through Apple directly, not Goldman Sachs. As of January 2026, Apple and JPMorgan Chase announced that Chase will become the new issuer of Apple Card (transition expected in approximately 24 months). The death claim process may change after the transition is complete.

Download instructions for the whole estate

Opening an account for the estate itself

Checks made out to the estate deposit into an account titled to the estate, opened by the appointed executor or administrator under the estate's EIN.

Does Apple offer estate accounts?

Processing timelines at Apple: Varies; typically 2-4 weeks after all required documentation is received and verified. POD beneficiary claims may be processed faster. Incomplete documentation is the most common cause of delays—submitting all required documents with the initial claim helps avoid additional processing time.

Documentation required by Apple includes Certified copy of the death certificate, Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if no POD beneficiaries), and Small Estate Affidavit (if applicable under state law), along with additional paperwork that varies by account type. All death certificates and court documents must be certified copies.


Frequently asked questions

Apple Card is a credit card, so any outstanding balance becomes an obligation of the estate. The card should not be used after the account holder's death. Authorized users and Apple Card Family co-owners should contact Goldman Sachs at 877-255-5923. The estate executor or administrator will need to provide a death certificate and proof of authority to close the account. Credit cards do not pass by beneficiary designation. As of July 2026 Goldman Sachs Bank USA remains the issuer during the announced transition of Apple Card to JPMorgan Chase (expected around late 2027), so this contact and process apply until Chase takes over.

Apple Cash is a separate product serviced by Green Dot Bank, not Goldman Sachs. Apple Cash does not support beneficiary designations. The estate representative must contact Green Dot Bank at (877) 233-8552 or write to P.O. Box 1070, West Chester, OH 45071 with a certified death certificate to claim remaining funds. Inactive Apple Cash accounts may eventually be escheated to the state unclaimed property fund under applicable state law.

Apple Account access is separate from Apple's financial products and is handled by Apple directly, not Goldman Sachs. The simplest path is Apple's Digital Legacy program: if the deceased named you a Legacy Contact, you use the access key (stored in their Apple Account settings, printed out, or kept with their estate documents) plus a copy of the death certificate to request access at digital-legacy.apple.com. If there is no Legacy Contact, an estate representative can still request access or deletion in the U.S. with a court order naming them and directing Apple to provide access to the deceased person's Apple Account, along with the death certificate. See https://support.apple.com/en-us/102431. Encourage Apple users to add a Legacy Contact in advance so heirs avoid the court-order route.

Apple's Goldman Sachs Apple Card Support (Deceased Accounts) can be reached by phone at 1-877-255-5923 for questions throughout the claims process.

When the deceased had multiple Apple accounts, some may need separate claims while others can be handled together. The Goldman Sachs Apple Card Support (Deceased Accounts) can clarify what's needed for each account type.

SimplyTrustSimplyTrust Editorial·

Sources

Data sourced from Apple primary sources (14 pages reviewed). How we research.

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