What to do when a First Foundation account holder dies
Contact First Foundation's Private Wealth Management — Trust & Estate Settlement — 5-step process, 4 required documents, and pod and joint accounts typically release within days of receiving a certified death certificate; probated accounts follow the timelines of the decedent's home state.
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After a First Foundation 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 First Foundation's Private Wealth Management — Trust & Estate Settlement at 888-405-4332 with the proper legal authority documents.
First Foundation provides an online portal for initiating death claims, which can simplify the initial notification and document submission process. Claims can also be started by phone.
Death claim process
The death claim process at First Foundation works as follows:
Filing a claim
1
Notify First Foundation of the account holder's death by calling 888-405-4332 or visiting an office
2
Provide a certified copy of the death certificate
3
Establish your authority (POD beneficiary, joint owner, executor, administrator, or successor trustee)
4
Submit estate documentation as required for the account type and your role
5
For trust accounts or estates served by Private Wealth Management, contact the trust and estate settlement team to coordinate
Required Documents
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID for the person handling the estate
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if the estate is probated)
- Small estate affidavit (if eligible under state law and no probate is opened)
How long the process takes at First Foundation: POD and joint accounts typically release within days of receiving a certified death certificate; probated accounts follow the timelines of the decedent's home state. The most common reason for delays is missing or incomplete documentation, so submitting everything upfront is the best way to keep things moving.
First Foundation requires Certified copy of the death certificate, Government-issued photo ID for the person handling the estate, Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if the estate is probated), and Small estate affidavit (if eligible under state law and no probate is opened) to process a death claim. Certified copies are typically needed—photocopies are generally not accepted for death certificates or court documents.
Frequently asked questions
First Foundation's deposit terms state that at the death of an account owner, a single-party account passes as part of the owner's estate, while a Payable on Death (POD) account passes directly to the surviving named beneficiaries outside the estate. Confirm whether a POD designation is in place to know whether an account will avoid probate.
Yes. First Foundation's Private Wealth Management division provides trust administration and estate settlement, including determining the proper beneficiaries and distributing property according to the estate plan. A successor trustee or executor can engage this team separately from the deposit-account claims process.
First Foundation has offices in California, Nevada, Hawaii, Texas, and Florida, but the probate process and small-estate thresholds are governed by the deceased account holder's state of residence, not where the branch is located. Confirm the rules for the decedent's home state before relying on a small-estate affidavit.
First Foundation's Client Support can be reached by phone at 888-405-4332 for questions throughout the claims process.
Multiple First Foundation accounts may mean multiple claims. Some account types can be processed together, but others require their own documentation. Check with the Private Wealth Management — Trust & Estate Settlement to confirm what applies.
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