What to do when a Discover account holder dies
Contact Discover's Trust Account Setup — 6-step process, 7 required documents, and 10 business days after receiving complete documentation
Phone1-800-347-7000
Mailing Address
Discover, PO Box 30416, Salt Lake City, UT 84130-0416
Trust Account Setup
Online Banking Technical Support
International
TTY/TDD
WebsiteLearn more→
Beneficiary Care Team
Phone1-800-975-0162
Toll-Free1-800-975-0162
Fax1-224-813-5244
Mailing Address
Discover, PO Box 30394, Salt Lake City, UT 84130-0394
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified May 2026
After a Discover 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 Discover's Trust Account Setup at 1-800-975-0162 with the proper legal authority documents.
Death claims at Discover can be started through an online portal, which streamlines the initial notification and document upload. Phone and mail options are also available.
Death claim process
To file a claim after an account holder's death, here is what Discover requires:
Filing a claim
1
Contact Discover Bank Beneficiary Care Team at 1-800-975-0162
2
Provide deceased account holder information (name, account number, date of death)
3
Prepare the Letter of Instruction:
- Download from discover.com/online-banking/forms-docs/ or write a handwritten letter on entity letterhead if applicable
- Complete with fund disbursement instructions
4
Gather required documents based on account type:
- Certified death certificate and completed W-9 (all claims)
- For POD accounts: beneficiary provides government-issued ID
- For non-POD accounts: executor provides Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration
- For Small Estate Affidavit: funds paid as directed in the affidavit
- For trust beneficiaries: provide trust documents and trustee identification
5
Submit documents:
- Upload at discover.com/online-banking/secure-document-upload/ (select "Deceased Handling Documents")
- Fax to 1-224-813-5244
- Or mail to Discover, PO Box 30394, Salt Lake City, UT 84130-0394
6
Discover begins processing within 10 business days of receipt and contacts you to discuss next steps
Required Documents
- Completed Letter of Instruction (downloadable from discover.com/online-banking/forms-docs/ or handwritten)
- Legible, certified copy of death certificate
- Completed and signed Form W-9 for each individual or entity claiming funds
- Government-issued ID for beneficiary or estate representative
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if no POD designation)
- Small Estate Affidavit (if applicable, in lieu of Letters Testamentary)
- Trust documents and trustee identification (if trust is beneficiary)
Documents can be submitted three ways: upload at discover.com/online-banking/secure-document-upload/ (select "Deceased Handling Documents"), fax to 1-224-813-5244, or mail. Overnight mail address: Discover, 5420 West 1730 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84104. If estate goes through probate, funds are made payable to the Estate. IRA deceased accounts have a separate process with a dedicated IRA Letter of Instruction form. Additional death claim phone numbers: 1-800-618-1621 (Personal Loans), 1-800-347-5519 (Credit Cards). Funds can be disbursed via check, ACH, or internal transfer to a Discover transactional account.
How long the process takes at Discover: 10 business days after receiving complete documentation. The most common reason for delays is missing or incomplete documentation, so submitting everything upfront is the best way to keep things moving.
Documentation required by Discover includes Completed Letter of Instruction (downloadable from discover.com/online-banking/forms-docs/ or handwritten), Legible, certified copy of death certificate, and Completed and signed Form W-9 for each individual or entity claiming funds, along with additional paperwork that varies by account type. All death certificates and court documents must be certified copies.
Frequently asked questions
Contact the Beneficiary Care Team at 1-800-975-0162 (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-8 p.m. ET). You will need a Letter of Instruction, certified death certificate, and completed W-9. Submit documents by uploading at discover.com/online-banking/secure-document-upload/ (select "Deceased Handling Documents"), faxing to 1-224-813-5244, or mailing to PO Box 30394, Salt Lake City, UT 84130-0394. Processing begins within 10 business days of receipt.
No. Discover Bank is an online-only bank with no physical branch locations. All account management, including beneficiary designations, trust account setup, and estate claims, is handled online, by phone, and by mail. Customer service is available at 1-800-347-7000. A dedicated Trust Account Setup line is available at 1-866-515-5283. Discover merged into Capital One, N.A. on May 18, 2025 and is no longer accepting new deposit account applications as of January 2026, but existing accounts continue to be serviced under the Discover brand.
IRA deceased accounts have a separate process from deposit accounts. Contact the Beneficiary Care Team at 1-800-975-0162. You will need the IRA Deceased Customer Letter of Instruction form (available at discover.com/online-banking/forms-docs/), a certified death certificate, Form W-9, and the IRA Election of Payment by Beneficiary form. Named IRA beneficiaries can elect distribution options based on their relationship to the deceased.
Yes. Discover Bank permits trusts to be named as POD beneficiaries on Online Savings, Cashback Debit Checking, Money Market, and CD accounts. You can add a trust through the Manage Beneficiaries section after logging in at bank.discover.com, or by calling customer service at 1-800-347-7000. Provide the trust name, date established, and EIN. POD designations pass funds directly to the named trust at death, bypassing probate.
Discover Financial Services merged into Capital One, N.A. on May 18, 2025. As of January 2026, Discover is no longer accepting new deposit account applications. Existing accounts continue to be serviced under the Discover brand, and savings accounts are gradually transitioning to Capital One 360 Performance Savings accounts. Beneficiary designations, trust account setup, and estate claims continue to follow Discover's existing procedures during the transition. Customers will be notified in advance of any changes to their account.
Discover's Beneficiary Care Team can be reached by phone at 1-800-975-0162 and fax at 1-224-813-5244 for questions throughout the claims process.
Multiple Discover accounts may mean multiple claims. Some account types can be processed together, but others require their own documentation. Check with the Trust Account Setup to confirm what applies.
Phone1-800-347-7000
Mailing Address
Discover, PO Box 30416, Salt Lake City, UT 84130-0416
Trust Account Setup
Online Banking Technical Support
International
TTY/TDD
WebsiteLearn more→
Beneficiary Care Team
Phone1-800-975-0162
Toll-Free1-800-975-0162
Fax1-224-813-5244
Mailing Address
Discover, PO Box 30394, Salt Lake City, UT 84130-0394
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified May 2026
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