What to do when a Capital Group account holder dies
Contact Capital Group — 6-step process, 6 required documents, and capital group does not publish a specific timeline. expect 2-4 weeks after all required documents are received for standard claims. probate-dependent claims vary based on court proceedings.
Shareholder Services
Phone(800) 421-4225
Fax(888) 421-4351
Mailing Address
American Funds Service Company, P.O. Box 6007, Indianapolis, IN 46206-6007 (western/central states and international) or P.O. Box 2280, Norfolk, VA 23501-2280 (eastern states)
International (Norfolk)
International (Los Angeles)
Website Assistance
WebsiteLearn more→
Shareholder Services
Phone(800) 421-4225
Fax(888) 421-4351
Mailing Address
American Funds Service Company, P.O. Box 6007, Indianapolis, IN 46206-6007 (western/central states and international) or P.O. Box 2280, Norfolk, VA 23501-2280 (eastern states)
International (Norfolk)
International (Los Angeles)
Website Assistance
WebsiteLearn more→
Inherited Assets / Death Claims
Phone(800) 421-4225
Fax(888) 421-4351
Mailing Address
American Funds Service Company, P.O. Box 6007, Indianapolis, IN 46206-6007 (western/central states and international) or P.O. Box 2280, Norfolk, VA 23501-2280 (eastern states)
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Apr 2026
After a Capital Group account holder dies, accounts with beneficiary designations or trust ownership transfer to the designated recipients without probate. Solely-owned accounts require the estate's representative to contact Capital Group's Inherited Assets / Death Claims at (800) 421-4225 with the proper legal authority documents.
Capital Group offers an online claims portal that makes the initial filing process more straightforward. Survivors can also initiate claims by phone or by mailing documentation directly.
Death claim process
To file a claim after an account holder's death, here is what Capital Group requires:
Filing a claim
1
Call Capital Group at (800) 421-4225 to notify them of the account holder's death and initiate the claim process
2
Provide the account number and date of death
3
A representative will walk you through the claim process and mail the required forms
4
Submit a certified copy of the death certificate
5
Choose the appropriate settlement path based on account type:
- TOD accounts: the named beneficiary provides death certificate and valid government-issued ID to receive assets
- IRA accounts with a named beneficiary: beneficiary completes claim paperwork and elects distribution method (eligible designated beneficiaries include surviving spouse, child under 21, individual not more than 10 years younger than deceased, and disabled or chronically ill individuals)
- Accounts without a beneficiary designation: provide Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from the probate court
- Trust-titled accounts: the successor trustee provides death certificate, trust document, and trustee identification
6
Once the claim is processed, beneficiaries can set up distributions, link a bank account via the Add/Update Bank Information form, or transfer assets to a new account
Required Documents
- Certified death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID for the beneficiary, executor, or successor trustee
- Claim forms provided by Capital Group after notification
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if no beneficiary designation and probate is required)
- Trust documents and trustee identification (if trust-titled account or trust is named beneficiary)
- Add/Update Bank Information form (to link a bank account for receiving distributions)
Call (800) 421-4225 as the first step -- Capital Group will walk you through the entire process. Inherited IRA beneficiaries must take distributions on time to avoid tax penalties and may be required to deplete the account within 5 or 10 years and/or take annual required minimum distributions (RMDs) under the SECURE Act. Eligible designated beneficiaries (surviving spouse, child under 21, individual not more than 10 years younger, disabled, or chronically ill) have different distribution options. If no beneficiary is designated on an IRA, default order is: surviving spouse, then children equally (deceased children's shares pass to grandchildren), then estate. Capital Group recommends consulting a financial professional and tax advisor regarding inherited account distribution options.
Expected timelines at Capital Group: Capital Group does not publish a specific timeline. Expect 2-4 weeks after all required documents are received for standard claims. Probate-dependent claims vary based on court proceedings. Delays are almost always caused by incomplete paperwork—gathering all required documents before filing the initial claim helps avoid back-and-forth.
Documentation required by Capital Group includes Certified death certificate, Government-issued photo ID for the beneficiary, executor, or successor trustee, and Claim forms provided by Capital Group after notification, along with additional paperwork that varies by account type. All death certificates and court documents must be certified copies.
Frequently asked questions
You can update beneficiaries online by logging in at capitalgroup.com and navigating to the beneficiary section under your account portfolio. For IRA accounts, complete the IRA Beneficiary Change form (irgefm-004_iraben.pdf). For individual or joint accounts, complete the Transfer on Death (TOD) Registration Request (mfgefm-002_tod.pdf). For CollegeAmerica 529 plans, complete the CollegeAmerica Account Change Request (caidfm-006_529chgreq.pdf) to designate a successor owner. All beneficiary updates replace existing designations entirely -- partial updates are not allowed. Allocations must be in whole percentages totaling 100%. You can also call (800) 421-4225 for assistance. Forms can be submitted via the secure online portal at capitalgroup.com/individual/esub/form or mailed to the appropriate service center.
A TOD registration allows you to name beneficiaries on your individual or joint American Funds mutual fund or ETF accounts. Upon your death, assets transfer directly to the named beneficiaries without probate. You can designate primary and contingent beneficiaries with percentage allocations. TOD beneficiaries have no ownership rights or account access during your lifetime. If one primary beneficiary predeceases you, their share divides proportionally among surviving primary beneficiaries. Some states prohibit TOD registration on joint accounts. Updates can be made online or by completing the Transfer on Death (TOD) Registration Request form (mfgefm-002_tod.pdf) or by submitting a signed letter of instruction.
Call Capital Group at (800) 421-4225 as the first step to report the death and initiate the claim process. Have the account number and date of death ready. For TOD accounts, the named beneficiary provides a death certificate and government-issued ID to receive assets. For IRA accounts with a named beneficiary, the beneficiary completes claim paperwork and elects a distribution method. For trust-titled accounts, the successor trustee provides the death certificate, trust document, and trustee identification. For accounts without a beneficiary designation, Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from probate court are required. Visit capitalgroup.com/individual/service-and-support/life-events/inheritance.html for more information.
If no beneficiary is designated on an IRA custodied by Capital Bank and Trust Company, assets pass in this default order: (1) surviving spouse, (2) children equally (with grandchildren inheriting a deceased child's share by representation), (3) estate. Capital Group recommends designating specific beneficiaries to avoid probate and ensure assets pass according to your wishes. Each IRA must have its own separate beneficiary designation. Some states require spousal consent when naming a non-spouse primary beneficiary.
Capital Group's Inherited Assets / Death Claims can be reached by phone at (800) 421-4225 and fax at (888) 421-4351 for questions throughout the claims process.
Multiple Capital Group investment accounts may mean multiple claims. Some account types can be processed together, but others require their own documentation. Check with the Inherited Assets / Death Claims to confirm what applies.
Shareholder Services
Phone(800) 421-4225
Fax(888) 421-4351
Mailing Address
American Funds Service Company, P.O. Box 6007, Indianapolis, IN 46206-6007 (western/central states and international) or P.O. Box 2280, Norfolk, VA 23501-2280 (eastern states)
International (Norfolk)
International (Los Angeles)
Website Assistance
WebsiteLearn more→
Shareholder Services
Phone(800) 421-4225
Fax(888) 421-4351
Mailing Address
American Funds Service Company, P.O. Box 6007, Indianapolis, IN 46206-6007 (western/central states and international) or P.O. Box 2280, Norfolk, VA 23501-2280 (eastern states)
International (Norfolk)
International (Los Angeles)
Website Assistance
WebsiteLearn more→
Inherited Assets / Death Claims
Phone(800) 421-4225
Fax(888) 421-4351
Mailing Address
American Funds Service Company, P.O. Box 6007, Indianapolis, IN 46206-6007 (western/central states and international) or P.O. Box 2280, Norfolk, VA 23501-2280 (eastern states)
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Apr 2026
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