What to do when an Elan Financial account holder dies

The account is closed, not transferred: Sec. 27 of the Cardmember Agreement makes it a default if "you die without a surviving joint Cardmember." If a joint Cardmember survives, the account continues and that person remains liable (Sec. 24).¹

Only a primary or joint Cardmember may ask Elan to remove an authorized user's authority (Sec. 21), so once the only Cardmember has died, closing the account is what ends authorized-user access.¹

Elan's program terms condition redemption on account status: "The account must be open and in good standing (not past due or overlimit) on the closing date of the billing cycle to earn and redeem rewards and benefits." Cash-back cards carry a parallel term. Points "expire 5 years from when they are earned."^{2, 3}

Accounts Elan has referred to its account-resolution portal by letter⁴

Referred accounts; the portal login asks for the account number from Elan's letter⁵

Sec. 21: "We will not provide any Account information to anyone other than you and any Authorized Users. Authorized Users have no right to make any Account changes or inquiries." A relative who held a card still needs Letters to deal with the account.¹