What to do when a MIDFLORIDA account holder dies
Report the death to MIDFLORIDA's Help Desk at 1-866-913-3733
When a member of MIDFLORIDA passes away, the Help Desk handles the transition of accounts to beneficiaries or the estate. Accounts with Payable on Death designations or trust ownership transfer outside of probate, while solely-owned accounts may require Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from the probate court.
Death claim process
The death claim process at MIDFLORIDA works as follows:
Filing a claim
- Stop payments are processed only Monday through Friday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Saturday 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM
- MIDFLORIDA warns that a request made outside those hours may clear before the stop payment is applied
- A fee is assessed per stop payment
- Payable-on-death account: the named living beneficiary claims with photo ID and the death certificate
- Individually owned with no payable-on-death beneficiary: the personal representative presents Letters of Administration from the Florida probate court
- Trust-titled account: the successor trustee presents the trust document or Certificate of Trust and ID
- IRA: beneficiaries complete IRA distribution paperwork
Required Documents
- Certified copy of the death certificateThe agreement names a "certified death certificate or court order" as the satisfactory evidence of the death.
- Government-issued photo ID for the claimant
- Letters of Administration from the Florida probate court, for an individually owned account with no payable-on-death beneficiary or survivor
- Sworn small-estate affidavit, notarized, with a certified death certificate, for small sole-name deposit accounts and certificates with no survivor designation, paid without a court proceeding
- Trust agreement or Certificate of Trust, plus the successor trustee's ID, for a trust-titled account
- IRA beneficiary claim or distribution paperwork, for an IRA; a payable-on-death designation does not apply to it
- Indemnification, if the credit union requires one from the person claiming the funds
What happens to each kind of account6
- Payable-on-death account
A payable-on-death account is paid to the living named beneficiaries, in equal shares if more than one, when the last owner dies. A beneficiary claims with photo ID and the death certificate and is generally paid once they are accepted.1
- Joint account with survivorship
A joint account is a joint tenancy with right of survivorship, so the balance belongs to the surviving owners, subject to the credit union's lien and right of set-off. A surviving owner is generally paid once the certified death certificate and ID are accepted.2
- Account in one name
For an individually owned account with no payable-on-death beneficiary, the personal representative presents Letters of Administration from the Florida probate court.1
- Trust account
For a trust-titled account, the successor trustee acts on the trust document or Certificate of Trust and presents ID.1
- IRA
The IRA's own beneficiary designation controls; a payable-on-death designation does not reach it. Beneficiaries complete IRA distribution paperwork.1
- Fiduciary account
On a representative payee account, the payee "has no ownership interest or survivorship rights in the account" and the credit union "act[s] only as custodian of funds." A payee who survives the member takes nothing by survivorship.2
On an agency or custodial account, the agent, guardian, custodian or other fiduciary named on the Account Card is appointed as attorney-in-fact and "has no ownership interest in the account(s)." The authority ends at death and the funds belong to the member's estate or designated beneficiary.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 elsewhere4
- Freedom Financial Group / Osaic Wealth
MIDFLORIDA investment accounts; claims go through the member's advisor, not the Help Desk1
- Southeast Trust Company (Ocala, Gainesville and The Villages offices)
Managed trust accounts and full estate settlement; it can serve as Personal Representative3
Phone: 1-352-291-5999
Mailing address: 1603 SW 19th Ave, Ocala, FL 34471
- Southeast Trust Company (Lakeland office)
Managed trust accounts and full estate settlement; it can serve as Personal Representative3
Phone: 1-863-904-4914
Mailing address: 3008 S. Florida Ave, Lakeland, FL 33803
- Southeast Trust Company (Naples office)
Managed trust accounts and full estate settlement; it can serve as Personal Representative3
Phone: 1-239-384-6141
Mailing address: 3360 Pine Ridge Road, Naples, FL 34109
What MIDFLORIDA's agreement and guidance say8
- Telling the institution
MIDFLORIDA "may continue to honor all transfer orders, withdrawals, deposits and other transactions on an account until we are notified of a member's death" and given satisfactory evidence of it, such as a certified death certificate.2
- Payments after the death
Even after notice, MIDFLORIDA "may pay drafts or honor other payments or transfer orders authorized by the member for a period of ten (10) days after that date unless we receive instructions from any person claiming an interest in the account to stop payment."2
- Debts owed to the institution
Any payment on death is "subject to our lien and security interest," which the credit union can apply "without any legal process, court proceeding or any notice to any owner." Its pledge language reaches certificate, payable-on-death, revocable trust and custodial accounts.2
"Any such pledge must be satisfied before the rights of any surviving owner or designated beneficiary take effect." A surviving joint owner's interest is subject to a pledge the deceased owner granted, even without the survivor's consent.2
- Deposits after the death
If the credit union has to reimburse the U.S. Government for a benefit payment, such as Social Security or VA, deposited after the death, it may deduct that amount from any of the member's accounts.2
- Indemnity a claimant may have to give
MIDFLORIDA may "require anyone claiming the owner's account funds to indemnify us for any losses resulting from our honoring that claim," and may require documentary evidence satisfactory to it before releasing funds.2
- Disputes between claimants
Where ownership is uncertain, the credit union may pay whomever it determines in its absolute discretion is entitled, and deduct its legal costs from the account.2
- Wills, probate and small estates
If there is no beneficiary designation, no probate proceeding and no estate, MIDFLORIDA "may, but is not required to" pay the funds to any heir, who is then solely responsible for further distribution. It may instead hold the funds until a proper court order is presented.2
- Dormant and unclaimed accounts
Under the "Inactive or Dormant Accounts" clause, the credit union may classify an account as inactive, abandoned or dormant, charge a service fee, take that fee from another of the member's accounts, and ultimately report and remit the balance to the state.2
Once the balance is remitted, "we have no further liability to you for such funds," and the estate must apply to the state agency instead.2
Not in MIDFLORIDA's published guidance3
- How long a claim takes
- A claim form
- A fax number for claim documents
Sources3
MIDFLORIDA's Help Desk can be reached by phone at 1-866-913-3733 for questions throughout the claims process.
Sources
Data sourced from MIDFLORIDA primary sources (20 pages reviewed). How we research.
MIDFLORIDA death claims support
Help Desk
Phone
Toll-free
Hours
Mailing address
Website
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Learn how to protect your MIDFLORIDA accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
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