What to do when a LMCU account holder dies
Report the death to LMCU's Special Accounts - Decedent Estate at 1-800-242-9790
The Special Accounts - Decedent Estate 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.
Death claim process
To file a claim after an account holder's death, here is what LMCU requires:
Filing a claim
- Trust, estate, conservatorship, guardianship and other special accounts: 616-265-3130
- IRA, HSA or deferred compensation: 616-234-6335
- General member accounts and the Contact Center: 800-242-9790 (Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.)
- Or use the secure contact form or the Schedule an Appointment link at lmcu.org/contact-us
- Or chat (Monday-Thursday 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.)
- The original death certificate
- Your valid government-issued photo ID; LMCU requires valid identification for every special account type
- The deceased member's name and membership number
- Letters of Personal Representative (Michigan) or a Letter of Testamentary (Florida), or your Certificate of Trust Existence & Authority, if you are acting in that role
- The original death certificate
- A copy of your government-issued photo ID
- Letters of Personal Representative (Michigan) or a Letter of Testamentary (Florida), or the Certificate of Trust Existence & Authority and the IRS EIN letter
- A signed letter of instruction giving the member, the membership number, the date of death, your role, and how you want the funds paid
Required Documents
- Original death certificateThe Special Accounts checklist reads "Original Death Certification", not a copy.
- Valid identification for the claimantThe checklist requires it for every special account type.
- Letters of Personal Representative, for a decedent who lived in Michigan
- Letter of Testamentary, for a decedent who lived in Florida
- Tax ID verification (IRS EIN letter), for the decedent-estate membership or the now-irrevocable trust
- Certificate of Trust Existence & Authority and the trustee's ID, where a trust owns or is the beneficiary of the accountA successor trustee also gives the grantor's original death certificate and Tax ID verification (IRS letter) for the trust.
- Proof that the deceased was an LMCU member before deathLMCU will not open a decedent-estate membership otherwise.
- Letters of Conservatorship or Letters of Guardianship, for a conservator (Michigan only) or a guardian (Florida only)With the protected individual's SSN and date of birth.
What happens to each kind of account3
- Payable-on-death account
LMCU pays the beneficiaries named on the Account Card in their designated percentages. The beneficiary provides identification.1
- Joint account with survivorship
The account passes to the surviving joint owner by survivorship under section 29 of the member agreement. LMCU states it may not release funds to a survivor until all required legal documents are delivered.2
State law on paying a balance without lettersFlorida
- Florida
Fla. Stat. § 735.303
Florida law permits a credit union to pay from a deceased member's balance on an affidavit made under oath, without letters testamentary or letters of administration.Fla. Stat. § 735.303Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
Paid to: family member (surviving spouse; else adult child; else adult descendant; else parent)
Limit: $2,000 held at the institution and $2,000 in total from every holder
When: not earlier than 6 months after the date of the decedent’s death
The section permits the payment. It does not require the credit union to make it. The section sets further conditions.
Accounts handled elsewhere1
- MaxWealth Management (LPL Financial)
MaxWealth investment accounts, claimed through the LPL advisor rather than Special Accounts3
Phone: 1-855-919-2207
Email: lmcu.maxwealth@lpl.com
What LMCU's agreement and guidance say3
- Membership
LMCU settles accounts only for people who were members before death. Its Special Accounts checklist states the deceased individual must have been a member with LMCU prior to death.1
- Wills, probate and small estates
A decedent-estate membership is opened in the estate's name, and the checklist lists "Tax ID Verification" for a decedent estate.1
LMCU cannot act on estate funds until Letters of Personal Representative (Michigan) or a Letter of Testamentary (Florida) and the estate's EIN exist.3
- Debts owed to the institution
Under section 21 of the member agreement, LMCU's lien covers all funds in all joint and individual share accounts "regardless of the source of the shares or any individual owner's contributions" and "has priority over all other claims".2
LMCU may apply shares to what is owed, or hold or freeze them as collateral, without notice to any owner (sections 21 to 23). An unpaid LMCU loan, credit card or negative balance is taken out before beneficiaries or the estate are paid.2
Not in LMCU's published guidance1
- A small-estate procedure
Sources3
- 1.Special Accounts documentation checklist, Revised 04/24/2024
- 2.General Member Agreement
- 3.Contact Us
LMCU's Special Accounts - Decedent Estate can be reached by phone at 1-800-242-9790 for questions throughout the claims process.
Sources
Data sourced from LMCU primary sources (37 pages reviewed). How we research.
LMCU death claims support
Special Accounts - Decedent Estate
Phone
Toll-free
IRA / HSA death claims
MaxWealth Management (LPL Financial) death claims
Contact Center
Mailing address
Website
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your LMCU accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
Is this your situation?
Get a complete guide for your specific circumstances.
Forms for Settling an Estate
Free forms for settling an estate: the probate petition, small estate affidavit, notice to creditors, inventory, and closing forms.
Digital Assets Recovery Letter
Prepare a letter requesting a deceased person's online accounts, points, and balances from the program that holds them.
Petition for Probate and Letters
Open probate and ask the court to appoint you and issue Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration.
Notice to Creditors
Notify estate creditors and start the claim period — the published notice plus mailed copies for known creditors.
Renunciation of Executor
Decline an appointment as executor named in a will — the writing filed with the court before anyone is appointed.
Affidavit of Heirship
Prepare the sworn statement of a deceased person's family history and heirs for recording in the county land records, with your state's recording instructions.
Small Estate Affidavit
Collect a small estate's property without probate — the sworn affidavit presented to banks and other holders, with a presentation letter for each.
Tools for Settling an Estate
Free tools for settling an estate: whether probate is needed, executor and trustee pay, creditor deadlines, and inheritance taxes.
How Many Death Certificates Do I Need?
Calculate how many certified death certificates you need and see ordering info for your state.
Do I Need Probate?
Find out if an estate needs probate or qualifies for simplified procedures.
Do I Have to File Tax Returns for Someone Who Died?
Find out which tax returns need to be filed after someone dies and whether tax clearance is required.
How Do I Settle an Estate?
Personalized plan for settling an estate after someone passes away.
What Do I Do When Someone Dies?
A step-by-step checklist for the days, weeks, and months after a death, with state rules noted where they apply.
How Much Are Estate & Inheritance Taxes?
Calculate federal estate tax, state estate tax, and inheritance tax for an estate.
