What to do when a LMCU account holder dies
Contact LMCU's Special Accounts Department — 7-step process, 6 required documents, and pod accounts typically processed within 5-10 business days upon verification of documentation. estate accounts vary depending on probate court timelines and completeness of documentation.
Customer Service
Phone1-800-242-9790
Toll-Free1-800-242-9790
Mailing Address
Lake Michigan Credit Union, 4027 Lake Dr. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546
Special Accounts Department
Phone(616) 234-6335
Toll-Free1-800-242-9790
Fax(616) 643-0720
Mailing Address
Lake Michigan Credit Union, Attn: Special Accounts, PO Box 2848, Grand Rapids, MI 49501-2848
WebsiteLearn more→
Special Accounts Department
Phone(616) 234-6335
Toll-Free1-800-242-9790
Fax(616) 643-0720
Mailing Address
Lake Michigan Credit Union, Attn: Special Accounts, PO Box 2848, Grand Rapids, MI 49501-2848
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Apr 2026
The Special Accounts Department at LMCU coordinates account transitions after a member's death. How each account is handled depends on its setup: POD and trust accounts transfer automatically, while solely-owned accounts typically require court authorization through Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration.
LMCU 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 or by mailing the required documents.
Death claim process
To file a claim after an account holder's death, here is what LMCU requires:
Filing a claim
1
Notify LMCU of the member's death:
- Call Special Accounts Department at 616-234-6335
- Call toll-free at 800-242-9790
- Visit any LMCU branch location
2
Provide the deceased member's name, account number, and date of death.
3
Submit an original or certified copy of the death certificate.
4
Submit additional documentation based on account type:
- POD accounts: named beneficiary provides government-issued ID to claim funds
- Trust accounts: successor trustee provides trust document, death certificate, and trustee ID
- Estate accounts (no POD/trust): provide Letters of Personal Representative from probate court
5
Provide Tax ID Verification / EIN for the estate or irrevocable trust.
6
LMCU reviews all documentation for completeness.
7
Assets distributed per beneficiary designation, trust terms, or estate instructions.
Required Documents
- Original or certified death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID for claimant (beneficiary, trustee, or personal representative)
- Letters of Personal Representative issued by probate court (if no POD or trust)
- Tax ID Verification / EIN (for estate account or irrevocable trust)
- Trust documents and trustee identification (if trust is beneficiary or account is trust-titled)
- Small Estate Affidavit (if estate qualifies under Michigan or Florida law)
The deceased must have been an LMCU member prior to death. For accounts with POD beneficiaries, funds are payable to the designated beneficiary upon death of the last account owner. If all named beneficiaries predeceased the owner, funds are paid to the estate. Club accounts (Holiday Club) follow the same POD distribution rules. IRA death claims may have additional tax reporting requirements.
How long the process takes at LMCU: POD accounts typically processed within 5-10 business days upon verification of documentation. Estate accounts vary depending on probate court timelines and completeness of 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 LMCU includes Original or certified death certificate, Government-issued photo ID for claimant (beneficiary, trustee, or personal representative), and Letters of Personal Representative issued by probate court (if no POD or trust), along with additional paperwork that varies by account type. All death certificates and court documents must be certified copies.
Frequently asked questions
LMCU's Payable on Death (POD) beneficiary designation applies to deposit accounts -- checking, savings, and money market -- but explicitly excludes CDs, IRAs, and HSAs per the Member Agreement and Beneficiary Designation Form. To pass a CD to beneficiaries outside of probate, a member must retitle it in the name of a revocable trust (which CDs support) or allow it to distribute through the estate. IRAs pass by separate beneficiary designation held on the IRA itself, not through the general POD form. Members with both CDs and IRAs at LMCU should ensure estate transfer plans are coordinated across the two separate designation systems.
LMCU's Special Accounts Department can be reached by phone at 1-800-242-9790 and fax at (616) 643-0720 for questions throughout the claims process.
Multiple LMCU accounts may mean multiple claims. Some account types can be processed together, but others require their own documentation. Check with the Special Accounts Department to confirm what applies.
Customer Service
Phone1-800-242-9790
Toll-Free1-800-242-9790
Mailing Address
Lake Michigan Credit Union, 4027 Lake Dr. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546
Special Accounts Department
Phone(616) 234-6335
Toll-Free1-800-242-9790
Fax(616) 643-0720
Mailing Address
Lake Michigan Credit Union, Attn: Special Accounts, PO Box 2848, Grand Rapids, MI 49501-2848
WebsiteLearn more→
Special Accounts Department
Phone(616) 234-6335
Toll-Free1-800-242-9790
Fax(616) 643-0720
Mailing Address
Lake Michigan Credit Union, Attn: Special Accounts, PO Box 2848, Grand Rapids, MI 49501-2848
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Apr 2026
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