What to do when a Capital One account holder dies
Report the death to Capital One's Bank Estate Operations at 1-877-357-5659
What happens to Capital One 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 Capital One's Bank Estate Operations (1-877-357-5659) to claim the funds.
Deposit, investment & retirement accounts
The death claim process at Capital One works as follows:
Filing a claim
- Bank accounts
- Credit cards
- For a card, have the account holder's name, Social Security number, date of birth and account number. The date of death and death certificate are not required but can help verify them
- Auto finance
- Have the deceased account holder's full legal name and either the account number or Social Security number ready
- You are given a settlement case number at that time, and a case manager then emails you the documentation needed to settle all the accounts
- It asks for your name, SSN, date of birth, address, email and phone; the deceased customer's name, SSN and address; your relationship to the deceased; and any known bank account numbers
- All signatures are required, including a co-executor's if there is one. Missing signatures delay processing
- A notary completes the notary section. If no notary is available in the branch, the branch associate witnessing the signature completes the "For branch use only" block
- Use the Notes field or comments section to request a Date of Death Balance Letter or copies of statements
- Upload them through the secure document upload link in your email. Call 877-357-5659 if you need a link
- Or mail them to Capital One, Attn: Bank By Mail - Bank Estate Operations, PO Box 85123, Richmond, VA 23285, with the settlement case number
- Send copies only. Original documents are not returned
Required Documents
- Death certificateCapital One asks for a copy. Original documents are not returned.
- Letter of Instruction, completed and notarized, one for each executor and/or beneficiaryCo-executors may send in one Letter of Instruction, if they wish, signed by both.
- Letters of Administration or Letters of Testamentary, to settle an account as an executorIssued by a court and dated within the last 2 years.
- Notarized Affidavit for Collection of Personal Property or Small Estate Affidavit, in place of court letters, or for an heir who is not a named beneficiaryCapital One says you may be able to settle with one and to refer to your state-specific guidelines.
- Notarized Form L-8, if the deceased customer lived in New JerseyPlus an Inheritance Tax Waiver if the L-8 form does not apply.
- Consular Report of Death of an American Citizen Abroad, for a U.S. resident who died in a foreign countryFrom the U.S. consulate or embassy where the death occurred. U.S. court-issued documentation is required to collect funds; foreign estate documentation is not accepted.
- Account-specific forms for trusts, if a trust is involved
- Additional documentation, for an account with minor titling or minor beneficiaries
- Executor's authorization to release information to your law firm, if you choose to communicate through an attorney
Forms Capital One issues1
- Letter of Instruction
Completed by each executor and/or beneficiary. Available to download. Must be notarized.1
What happens to each kind of account2
- Joint account with survivorship
Joint owners are joint tenants with right of survivorship. Except for certain retirement benefits like Social Security, when one owner dies the money "belongs only to the survivor (and not to the estate of the deceased person)."2
A joint account with a deceased owner becomes a sole account of the living owner. Depending on the account type, the living owner may need to update a signature card in a branch.3
- Payable-on-death account
Only an individual may be a POD beneficiary. On the death of all owners, Capital One distributes the remaining funds to the beneficiaries then living, in equal shares.2
A beneficiary is recognized only if the deceased recorded it with Capital One before death, and receives the available balance without waiting for release of the estate by a probate judge or administrator.3
Accounts handled elsewhere7
- Estates Servicing for Credit Cards
Capital One credit cards4
Phone: 1-877-357-5659
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-8:00 PM ET
Mailing address: Estates Notification, P.O. Box 30285, Salt Lake City, UT 84130-0285
- Estates Servicing for Auto Finance
Capital One auto loans5
Phone: 1-800-901-8762
Fax: 1-888-722-4993
Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00 AM-6:00 PM ET
Mailing address: Capital One Auto, ATTN: Estates, 7933 Preston Road, Plano, TX 75024
- Capital One auto loans
Questions about auto loans and their settlement, the number in the Letter of Instruction1
Phone: 1-800-946-0332
- Capital One Small Business Bank
Small business bank accounts1
Phone: 1-888-755-2172
- Discover Beneficiary Care Team
Discover checking and savings accounts6
Phone: 1-800-975-0162
- Discover Beneficiary Care Team
Discover personal loans6
Phone: 1-800-618-1621
- Discover Beneficiary Care Team
Discover cards other than a Discover by Capital One card, and all other Discover accounts6
Phone: 1-800-347-5519
What Capital One provides to the estate3
- Date-of-death balance letter
Validated executors, administrators or affiants can request a Date of Death Balance Letter stating the balances held at death. Payable-on-death and in-trust-for beneficiaries cannot. Ask in the Letter of Instruction's comment section or by email with the case number in the subject line.3
- Statement copies
Statement copies are requested in the Letter of Instruction's comment section or by email with the case number in the subject line.3
- Tax forms
Any necessary tax forms are sent to the personal representative's address at the end of the fiscal year.3
What Capital One's agreement and guidance say7
- Telling the institution
Under "Death, incapacity or termination," Capital One can keep accepting deposits, collecting deposited items and acting on transaction instructions "until we know of your death or adjudication of incompetency and have a reasonable opportunity to act."2
- What it does when notified
When notified, Capital One places balance holds on sole-owned accounts, restricts all debit cards and linked accounts, and removes the deceased account holder from any joint accounts. It then reviews the accounts to assess what documents or steps are needed.3
- Deposits after the death
Federal benefit payments made after the date of death, such as Social Security, Veterans Benefits or SSI, are stopped or returned to the government. A survivor who believes they are still eligible must contact the agency responsible for the benefit.3
- Debts owed to the institution
Payment to POD beneficiaries is "subject to our right to charge the account for any amount a deceased owner, co-owner or POD beneficiary owes us."2
- Payment to a minor or incapacitated beneficiary
A POD beneficiary under 18 is paid through the person who is the statutory or court-appointed custodian for that beneficiary.2
- Wills, probate and small estates
Capital One cannot determine the validity of a will; a will must be probated by a court. Where an account has no beneficiaries, it takes instructions only from the court-appointed personal representative.3
- How proceeds are paid
Capital One settles accounts only by check in the name of the deceased's estate or the beneficiaries on the account. It does not transfer the funds to another Capital One account or to another bank.3
Not in Capital One's published guidance3
- Whether the death certificate must be certified
- An email address for claim documents
- A fax number for claim documents, for deposit accounts
Lending products
Credit cards and other lending products are liabilities, not assets. Outstanding balances become debts of the estate. These accounts do not have beneficiaries and cannot be retitled to a trust.
Required Documents
- Executor documents, depending on what action you intend to take on the loanYou do not need to become the executor to notify Capital One or to be named Person Handling the Affairs.
- Death certificateNot required, but can help verify the borrower's information. Capital One may request one if it cannot verify the death from public records.
- Fiduciary Rights FormProvided by Capital One Auto. eSigned through an emailed link, or printed and mailed.
Claims Contact
Phone: 1-800-901-8762
Fax: 1-888-722-4993
Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00 AM-6:00 PM ET
Mailing address: Capital One Auto, ATTN: Estates, 7933 Preston Road, Plano, TX 75024
Forms Capital One issues1
- Fiduciary Rights Form
Completed by the person to be named Person Handling the Affairs (PHA) for the loan. Sent by the institution on request.1
What happens to each kind of account1
- Loan
If there are two borrowers and only one has died, the living borrower can continue to manage the loan without interruption. Capital One recommends notifying it so contact and payment information can be verified or updated.1
Capital One auto loans are not assumable, including by the executor or a named Person Handling the Affairs. If the loan becomes delinquent, the vehicle may be at risk of repossession.1
Sources1
Correspondence from Capital One within 1 billing cycle. The case closes fastest when all necessary documents are submitted at the beginning.
Capital One's Bank Estate Operations can be reached by phone at 1-877-357-5659 for questions throughout the claims process.
Sources
Data sourced from Capital One primary sources (15 pages reviewed). How we research.
Capital One death claims support
Bank Estate Operations
Phone
Toll-free
Credit card estates
Auto finance estates
Small business bank estates
Discover checking and savings (Beneficiary Care Team)
Discover personal loans (Discover Beneficiary Care Team)
Discover cards and all other Discover accounts
Hours
Mailing address
Website
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