What to do when a D.A. Davidson account holder dies
Contact D.A. Davidson's D.A. Davidson Trust Company — 10-step process, 8 required documents, and varies by complexity. tod claims may process in days to weeks. full probate estates can take several months.
Phone1-406-727-4200
Toll-Free1-800-332-5915
Mailing Address
8 Third Street North, Great Falls, MT 59401
WebsiteLearn more →
D.A. Davidson Trust Company
Phone1-406-791-7320
Toll-Free1-800-332-5915
Mailing Address
D.A. Davidson Trust Company, 8 Third Street North, Suite 301, Great Falls, MT 59401
WebsiteLearn more →
Estate Settlement / Death Claims
Phone1-800-332-5915
Toll-Free1-800-332-5915
Mailing Address
D.A. Davidson & Co., 8 Third Street North, Great Falls, MT 59401
Verified Feb 2026
When a D.A. Davidson account holder passes away, the next step depends on how the investment accounts were set up. Accounts with beneficiary designations or trust ownership transfer outside of probate. Accounts titled solely in the deceased's name require the estate's legal representative to work with D.A. Davidson's D.A. Davidson Trust Company (1-800-332-5915) to access and distribute the funds.
Gather the account holder's full name, date of birth, and any known account or policy numbers before contacting D.A. Davidson. A certified death certificate is the primary document required to start any claim.
Death claim process
Here is the step-by-step death claim process at D.A. Davidson:
Filing a claim
1Contact the decedent's D.A. Davidson financial advisor or local branch office
2If advisor is unknown, call customer service at (800) 332-5915
3Advisor freezes the account and initiates the estate settlement process
4Obtain certified death certificates (multiple copies recommended)
5Gather and submit required documents to the advisor
6For TOD accounts: beneficiary presents death certificate and government ID to claim assets without probate
7For probate accounts: submit Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration and court documentation
8Estate account may be opened if needed (requires estate EIN)
9If D.A. Davidson Trust Company is named as trustee or executor, their trust officers manage the settlement process
10Assets distributed per will, trust, or beneficiary designations
Required Documents
- Certified death certificate (multiple copies)
- Government-issued ID for executor, trustee, or claimant
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if going through probate)
- Copy of the will or trust document (if applicable)
- D.A. Davidson estate/claim forms (provided by advisor)
- Estate EIN (if opening estate account)
- Inherited IRA application (for IRA beneficiaries)
- Inheritance tax waiver (required by certain states)
Contact the decedent's financial advisor first. If unknown, call main customer service at (800) 332-5915. D.A. Davidson Trust Company can serve as executor or trustee when named in estate documents. For TOD accounts, assets transfer directly to named beneficiaries without probate. D.A. Davidson publishes a "What to Do Upon the Loss of a Loved One" guide available at their website.
Processing timelines at D.A. Davidson: Varies by complexity. TOD claims may process in days to weeks. Full probate estates can take several months.. Incomplete documentation is the most common cause of delays—submitting all required documents with the initial claim helps avoid additional processing time.
D.A. Davidson requires several documents to process a claim, including Certified death certificate (multiple copies), Government-issued ID for executor, trustee, or claimant, and Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if going through probate), and additional documentation depending on the account type. Certified copies are typically needed—photocopies are generally not accepted for death certificates or court documents.
Frequently asked questions
Contact your D.A. Davidson financial advisor. Your advisor will provide a Transfer on Death (TOD) Agreement and Beneficiary Designation form. Complete the form with each beneficiary's full legal name, date of birth, SSN, relationship, address, and percentage allocation. Beneficiaries named on the form replace any existing beneficiary information. There is no confirmed self-service online option for managing beneficiaries.
Yes. Individual and joint brokerage accounts, the DADVANTAGE account, and advisory accounts can be retitled to a revocable living trust. Contact your financial advisor to initiate the process. You will need a certified copy of your trust agreement, government-issued ID for all trustees, and the trust tax identification number. D.A. Davidson notes that account titling has a substantial impact on asset control and transfer at death.
Contact the decedent's D.A. Davidson financial advisor or local branch office directly. If the advisor is unknown, call customer service at (800) 332-5915. You will need certified death certificates and relevant estate documents. The advisor will freeze the account and initiate the estate settlement process. D.A. Davidson publishes a "What to Do Upon the Loss of a Loved One" resource available through their website.
For TOD accounts: a certified death certificate and government-issued ID (assets transfer without probate). For estates requiring probate: Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration, a copy of the will, death certificate, and government-issued ID. An estate EIN is needed to open an estate account. Some states require inheritance tax waivers.
D.A. Davidson's Estate Settlement / Death Claims can be reached by phone at 1-800-332-5915 for questions throughout the claims process.
If the deceased held multiple D.A. Davidson investment accounts, each may require a separate claim or have different documentation requirements. The D.A. Davidson Trust Company can confirm which accounts require individual attention and which can be processed together.
Phone1-406-727-4200
Toll-Free1-800-332-5915
Mailing Address
8 Third Street North, Great Falls, MT 59401
WebsiteLearn more →
D.A. Davidson Trust Company
Phone1-406-791-7320
Toll-Free1-800-332-5915
Mailing Address
D.A. Davidson Trust Company, 8 Third Street North, Suite 301, Great Falls, MT 59401
WebsiteLearn more →
Estate Settlement / Death Claims
Phone1-800-332-5915
Toll-Free1-800-332-5915
Mailing Address
D.A. Davidson & Co., 8 Third Street North, Great Falls, MT 59401
Verified Feb 2026
Tools for settling a D.A. Davidson estate
Calculators and checklists to help navigate estate settlement after a D.A. Davidson account holder passes away.
How Do I Settle an Estate?
Get a personalized checklist for settling an estate after someone passes away. Covers trust administration, probate, and intestate estates.
Get Checklist
How Much Does Probate Cost?
Estimate attorney fees, executor fees, court costs, and timeline for probating an estate in your state. See if the estate qualifies for simplified probate procedures.
Use Calculator
How Much Can an Executor Charge?
Calculate how much an executor (personal representative) can charge for administering an estate. See if your state has statutory fees or uses reasonable compensation.
Use Calculator
How Many Death Certificates Do I Need?
Calculate how many certified death certificates you need based on the assets and accounts you need to close. See state-specific ordering information.
Use Calculator
Do I Need Probate?
Answer a few questions to find out if an estate needs full probate, qualifies for simplified probate, or can avoid probate entirely with a small estate affidavit.
Check Now
Who Inherits Without a Will?
Find out who inherits your estate and how much they get if you die without a will. Based on your state's intestate succession laws.
Use Calculator