What to do when a Independent Financial account holder dies
Contact Independent Financial's Customer Care / Estate Services — 9-step process, 9 required documents, and 5-10 business days for initial review after document submission
Phone1-800-460-6634
Toll-Free1-800-460-6634
Mailing Address
7777 Henneman Way, Suite 600, McKinney, TX 75070
Telephone Banking
Lost or Stolen Debit Card
Lost or Stolen Credit Card
Customer Care / Estate Services
Phone1-800-460-6634
Mailing Address
7777 Henneman Way, Suite 600, McKinney, TX 75070
Telephone Banking
Lost or Stolen Debit Card
Lost or Stolen Credit Card
WebsiteLearn more →
Phone1-800-460-6634
Mailing Address
Independent Financial, 7777 Henneman Way, Suite 600, McKinney, TX 75070
Verified Mar 2026
When a Independent Financial 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 Independent Financial's Customer Care / Estate Services (1-800-460-6634) 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 Independent Financial. A certified death certificate is the primary document required to start any claim.
Deposit, investment & retirement accounts
Here is the step-by-step death claim process at Independent Financial:
Filing a claim
1Contact Independent Financial Customer Care at (800) 460-6634 or visit any branch to report the death of an account holder
2Provide a certified copy of the death certificate and your valid government-issued photo ID
3For accounts with a POD beneficiary: provide death certificate and beneficiary identification to claim funds
4For joint accounts with right of survivorship: provide death certificate to remove the deceased and continue account access
5For accounts without a beneficiary: obtain Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from the probate court
6For trust accounts: provide death certificate, successor trustee identification, and trust documentation showing successor trustee authority
7For IRA accounts: provide death certificate, beneficiary identification, and complete IRA distribution or transfer forms
8Submit all documents to the branch or mail to the address provided by Customer Care
9Wait for the bank to review documents and process the claim; additional documentation may be requested
Required Documents
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Valid government-issued photo ID for the beneficiary, executor, or successor trustee
- Account information for the deceased (account number, account holder name)
- For accounts without beneficiary: Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from probate court
- For accounts without beneficiary and small estates: Small Estate Affidavit (state-specific requirements apply)
- For trust accounts: trust agreement pages showing successor trustee provisions and signature pages
- For trust accounts: successor trustee identification
- For IRA accounts: IRA distribution or transfer forms
- Written instructions regarding distribution preference (new account, check, or transfer)
In-branch visits are recommended for the fastest processing of estate claims. Texas and Colorado have different small estate affidavit thresholds and probate requirements. Distribution options typically include transfer to an existing account, opening a new account, or a check. Contact your local branch for the most direct assistance.
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 Independent Financial (now SouthState Bank) of the borrower's death by calling Customer Care at (800) 460-6634 or SouthState Customer Care at (800) 277-2175
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 documentation packet from the mortgage servicing department
5Complete and return the Successor in Interest documentation with proof of your ownership interest in the property (e.g., probated will, court order, deed, or trust document)
6The bank will review your documentation and confirm your status as a Successor in Interest
7Once 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
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
- Completed Successor in Interest documentation (obtained from mortgage servicing)
- Documentation proving ownership interest in the property (one or more of the following): probated will naming you as heir, court order of succession, recorded deed transferring ownership, trust document showing you as successor trustee or beneficiary
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if going through probate)
- Marriage certificate (if surviving spouse)
Under the federal Garn-St. Germain Depository Institutions Act (12 U.S.C. 1701j-3), the lender 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. Independent Financial merged with SouthState Corporation in January 2025. Existing mortgage customers may be directed to SouthState Customer Care at (800) 277-2175. SouthState mortgage servicing address: PO Box 118068, Charleston, SC 29423.
Processing timelines at Independent Financial: 5-10 business days for initial review after document submission. Incomplete documentation is the most common cause of delays—submitting all required documents with the initial claim helps avoid additional processing time.
Independent Financial requires several documents to process a claim, including Certified copy of the death certificate, Valid government-issued photo ID for the beneficiary, executor, or successor trustee, and Account information for the deceased (account number, account holder name), 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 any Independent Financial branch with valid photo ID and request to add a POD (Payable on Death) beneficiary to your deposit account. You will need the beneficiary full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, and relationship. You can also call Customer Care at (800) 460-6634 for assistance or to request forms by mail.
Contact Customer Care at (800) 460-6634 or visit any Independent Financial branch to report the death of an account holder. You will need a certified copy of the death certificate and valid photo ID for the person making the claim. The bank will explain the specific documents and process based on the type of account and how it is titled.
Required documents depend on how the account is titled. For POD accounts, you need the death certificate and beneficiary ID. For joint accounts, the death certificate is needed to remove the deceased. For accounts without a beneficiary, Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from the probate court are required. For trust accounts, you need the death certificate, trust documentation, and successor trustee identification.
Independent Financial's Customer Care / Estate Services can be reached by phone at 1-800-460-6634 for questions throughout the claims process.
If the deceased held multiple Independent Financial accounts, each may require a separate claim or have different documentation requirements. The Customer Care / Estate Services can confirm which accounts require individual attention and which can be processed together.
Phone1-800-460-6634
Toll-Free1-800-460-6634
Mailing Address
7777 Henneman Way, Suite 600, McKinney, TX 75070
Telephone Banking
Lost or Stolen Debit Card
Lost or Stolen Credit Card
Customer Care / Estate Services
Phone1-800-460-6634
Mailing Address
7777 Henneman Way, Suite 600, McKinney, TX 75070
Telephone Banking
Lost or Stolen Debit Card
Lost or Stolen Credit Card
WebsiteLearn more →
Phone1-800-460-6634
Mailing Address
Independent Financial, 7777 Henneman Way, Suite 600, McKinney, TX 75070
Verified Mar 2026
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Calculators and checklists to help navigate estate settlement after a Independent Financial account holder passes away.
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