What to do when a First Horizon account holder dies
Contact First Horizon — 9-step process, 6 required documents, and pod accounts: typically 5-10 business days after documentation is complete. estate accounts: varies based on probate requirements.
Customer Service
Phone1-800-382-5465
Mailing Address
First Horizon Bank, 165 Madison Ave, Memphis, TN 38103
WebsiteLearn more →
Customer Service
Phone1-800-382-5465
Mailing Address
First Horizon Bank, 165 Madison Ave, Memphis, TN 38103
WebsiteLearn more →
Death Claims / Estate Services
Phone1-800-382-5465
Toll-Free1-800-382-5465
Mailing Address
First Horizon Bank, ATTN: Customer Solutions, P.O. Box 15003, Knoxville, TN 37901-5003
Verified Mar 2026
When a First Horizon account holder passes away, the next step depends on how the 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 First Horizon's Death Claims / Estate Services (1-800-382-5465) to access and distribute the funds.
The claim process begins with a phone call to 1-800-382-5465. Have the account holder's full name, account numbers, and a certified death certificate available when making initial contact.
Deposit, investment & retirement accounts
Here is the step-by-step death claim process at First Horizon:
Filing a claim
1Contact First Horizon at 800-382-5465 or visit a local banking center to report the death
2Provide the deceased account holder's name and account information
3Submit a certified death certificate (original or certified copy)
4For POD accounts: beneficiary provides certified death certificate and government-issued ID to receive funds
5For joint accounts with right of survivorship: surviving owner provides death certificate to remove deceased from account
6For accounts without POD or survivorship: executor or administrator provides Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration
7For trust accounts: successor trustee provides death certificate, trust documents, and trustee identification
8First Horizon reviews all documentation and processes the claim
9Assets distributed per beneficiary designation, survivorship, trust terms, or estate instructions
Required Documents
- Certified death certificate (original or certified copy)
- Government-issued ID for beneficiary, executor, or successor trustee
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if no POD or survivorship)
- Account information (statements, account numbers)
- Trust documents and successor trustee ID (if trust is owner or beneficiary)
- Small estate affidavit (if applicable under state law)
Investment and retirement accounts held through First Horizon Advisors / LPL Financial may have separate death claim procedures. Contact the advisor team directly for those accounts. Visit your nearest banking center for the fastest processing.
Mortgage and home lending
Mortgages and home equity loans are liabilities, not assets. They do not have beneficiaries and cannot be retitled to a trust. When a borrower dies, the loan obligation transfers with the property to whoever inherits it. Under the federal Garn-St. Germain Act, the lender cannot accelerate the loan or call it due when the property transfers to a surviving spouse, child, or the borrower's revocable trust.
1Notify First Horizon of the borrower's death by calling mortgage servicing at 1-877-813-1587 or general customer service at 800-382-5465
2Provide the deceased borrower's full legal name, Social Security number, and loan number
3Submit a certified copy of the death certificate
4Request the Successor in Interest application and provide documentation proving your ownership interest in the property (e.g., probated will, court order, deed, or trust document)
5First Horizon will review your documentation and confirm your status as a Successor in Interest
6Once confirmed, you will have access to loan information and can discuss options: continue making payments, apply for loss mitigation, assume the loan, refinance, or pay off the balance
7If you need payment assistance, contact First Horizon Consumer Credit Solutions for loss mitigation options
8Continue making monthly mortgage payments during the review process to avoid default
Required Documents
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID for the heir or personal representative
- Documentation proving ownership interest in the property (probated will, court order, recorded deed, or trust document)
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if going through probate)
- Marriage certificate (if surviving spouse)
- Trust document showing successor trustee or beneficiary (if applicable)
Under the federal Garn-St. Germain Depository Institutions Act (12 U.S.C. 1701j-3), First Horizon cannot enforce a due-on-sale clause when the property transfers to a surviving spouse, child, relative upon death, or the borrower's revocable living trust. Confirmed Successors in Interest are treated as borrowers under CFPB mortgage servicing rules and are entitled to account information and loss mitigation options. Consumer Credit Solutions for hardship assistance is available at the First Horizon website. General customer service: 800-382-5465.
Processing timelines at First Horizon: POD accounts: typically 5-10 business days after documentation is complete. Estate accounts: varies based on probate requirements.. Incomplete documentation is the most common cause of delays—submitting all required documents with the initial claim helps avoid additional processing time.
First Horizon requires several documents to process a claim, including Certified death certificate (original or certified copy), Government-issued ID for beneficiary, executor, or successor trustee, and Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if no POD or survivorship), 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
Visit a First Horizon banking center to complete a POD (Payable on Death) beneficiary designation form. You will need your account information, government-issued ID, and the full name and Social Security number for each beneficiary. You can also call 800-382-5465 to request the form by mail.
Call First Horizon at 800-382-5465 or visit a local banking center. Customer service is available Monday through Friday 7 AM to 10 PM ET and Saturday 8 AM to 5 PM ET. You will need the deceased's account information and a certified death certificate. The bank will guide you through the specific requirements based on the account type and ownership structure.
If you have POD beneficiaries designated, the assets transfer directly to them upon presentation of a certified death certificate and valid ID. Joint accounts with right of survivorship pass to the surviving owner. Trust accounts pass according to the trust terms. Without POD, survivorship, or trust ownership, accounts go through probate and require Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from the court.
Yes. POD (Payable on Death) beneficiary designations on First Horizon deposit accounts take precedence over instructions in your will. This is why it is important to keep beneficiary designations updated whenever your circumstances change, such as after marriage, divorce, or the birth of a child.
First Horizon's Death Claims / Estate Services can be reached by phone at 1-800-382-5465 for questions throughout the claims process.
If the deceased held multiple First Horizon accounts, each may require a separate claim or have different documentation requirements. The Death Claims / Estate Services can confirm which accounts require individual attention and which can be processed together.
Customer Service
Phone1-800-382-5465
Mailing Address
First Horizon Bank, 165 Madison Ave, Memphis, TN 38103
WebsiteLearn more →
Customer Service
Phone1-800-382-5465
Mailing Address
First Horizon Bank, 165 Madison Ave, Memphis, TN 38103
WebsiteLearn more →
Death Claims / Estate Services
Phone1-800-382-5465
Toll-Free1-800-382-5465
Mailing Address
First Horizon Bank, ATTN: Customer Solutions, P.O. Box 15003, Knoxville, TN 37901-5003
Verified Mar 2026
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Calculators and checklists to help navigate estate settlement after a First Horizon account holder passes away.
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