What to do when a Morgan Stanley account holder dies
Report the death to Morgan Stanley at 1-888-454-3965
What happens to Morgan Stanley investment accounts after the account holder dies depends on how each account was titled. Beneficiary-designated and trust-owned accounts transfer directly. Accounts in the deceased's name alone go through the estate, and the executor or administrator works with Morgan Stanley (1-888-454-3965) to claim the funds.
Death claim process
The death claim process at Morgan Stanley works as follows:
Filing a claim
- Morgan Stanley Wealth Management: call the branch at the telephone number listed on the account statement
- For general account support, call 888-454-3965, or +1 801-902-6997 from outside the U.S., Monday to Friday 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET
- E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley: call 888-402-0653, Monday to Friday 9am-5pm ET, or email etrade_estates@morganstanley.com
- E*TRADE accounts can also be reported online
- A beneficiary named on an E*TRADE stock plan or brokerage account works with E*TRADE personnel to have the assets transferred
- Call E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley Beneficiary Services at +1 888-402-0653 within the U.S. or +1 678-624-6013 outside the U.S. A case manager is assigned
- Submit all documents through the Estate and Inheritor Upload tool
- An ancillary appointment through U.S. probate may be obtained in place of the IRS Federal Transfer Certificate
- Morgan Stanley states the process "can take a year, or longer, to complete" because of IRS requirements
Required Documents
- Certified death certificate, for a death distribution from a deceased person's IRA
- Notarized affidavit of domicile and debts, for a death distribution from a deceased person's IRA
- IRA Distribution Form with Section 8, Death Benefit Election, for a death distribution from a deceased person's IRA
- ACATS transfer form, to transfer the IRA to an Inherited IRA at another financial institution
- Original or certified death certificate, for a stock plan participant who lived outside the United StatesRequired in all cases. Any non-English document must be accompanied by a translation.
- Original or certified non-U.S. court documentation, for a stock plan participant who lived outside the United StatesObtained from a court, it indicates to whom the assets should be paid.
- Federal (IRS) Transfer Certificate Part A (Form 706-NA filing), for a participant outside the U.S. whose U.S. situs assets were "$60,000 or more on the date of death"Morgan Stanley states it "may take nine months or longer to be issued by the IRS." An ancillary appointment may be obtained instead.
- Federal Transfer Certificate (Part B) affidavit, for a participant outside the U.S. whose U.S. situs assets were "less than $60,000 USD on the date of death"The case manager provides the affidavit.
- Employer Identification Number (EIN) confirmation, for an estate or trust of a participant who lived outside the United StatesA photocopy of the IRS confirmation letter or of the online application confirmation.
- Non-U.S. passport or government-issued identification, for a beneficiary of a participant who lived outside the United StatesExpired documentation cannot be accepted.
- Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, for a beneficiary of a participant who lived outside the United StatesA W-8BEN must be completed by all parties entitled to control the assets; one W-8BEN-E is required per entity.
- Utility bill or bank statement, for a beneficiary of a participant who lived outside the United StatesIn the beneficiary's name and dated within six months of new account opening.
- E*TRADE Individual Brokerage Account Application, when a person, not an entity, claims the assets of a participant who lived outside the United States
- Certified translation and, where available, an Apostille, for documents of a participant who lived outside the United States that are not in English
Forms Morgan Stanley issues2
- IRA Distribution Form (Section 8, Death Benefit Election)
Available to download.1
- Letter of Instruction (authorization to move shares)
Completed by the beneficiary of a participant who lived outside the United States. Sent by the institution on request.2
What happens to each kind of account6
- Account in one name
On notice of the death and before an executor or administrator is appointed, Morgan Stanley may close open positions, cancel open orders in an individual account or take any action it deems necessary to protect the estate or Morgan Stanley.3
- Joint account with survivorship
Unless the owners chose another form, an account with more than one owner is a joint tenancy with right of survivorship. On an owner's death, all assets pass to the surviving owners on the same terms, without releasing the deceased owner's estate from liability.3
- Joint account without survivorship
On notice of an owner's death, a tenants in common account is distributed equally among the deceased owner's estate and the surviving owners, unless the owners instructed otherwise. Taxes and costs of distributing the deceased owner's share come out of that share.3
- Community property account
On the death of either owner of a community property account with right of survivorship, the entire interest vests in the surviving owner, without releasing the deceased owner's estate from liability.3
- Custodial account (UTMA/UGMA)
The custodian agrees to transfer a custodial account to the beneficiary or the beneficiary's estate at the earlier of the age of termination or the beneficiary's death.3
- IRA
The Section 8 Death Benefit Election offers a rollover or transfer to a spouse's IRA, a lump sum, a transfer to an Inherited IRA, or a transfer to an Inherited IRA at another financial institution.1
Section 8 and the death paperwork are not required for a distribution from an Inherited IRA where the beneficiary is already the accountholder.1
Accounts handled elsewhere1
- E*TRADE Beneficiary Services
E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley accounts4
What Morgan Stanley's agreement and guidance say7
- Telling the institution
When an owner of a joint or other multiple-owner account dies, the surviving owners agree to give Morgan Stanley notice immediately.3
Morgan Stanley has no liability for following instructions from the owner or an authorized person received before it is notified of the death, even if they are carried out after the death.3
- What it does when notified
Before or after notice of a joint owner's death, Morgan Stanley may require documents or inheritance or estate tax waivers, retain part of the assets and restrict transactions in the account to protect against tax, liability, penalty or loss.3
- How proceeds are paid
After the death, Morgan Stanley has no liability for market changes while the assets are distributed, until all required documents for the deceased processing of the accounts have been received and accepted.3
- Debts owed to the institution
The deceased joint owner's estate and each surviving owner remain liable for any debt owed to Morgan Stanley from transactions begun before written notice of the death, or from liquidating the account.3
- Indemnity a claimant may have to give
On a joint account with right of survivorship, the deceased owner's estate and the surviving owners agree to indemnify Morgan Stanley for taxes, liabilities, penalties or costs due in connection with the death or any third-party claims.3
- Disputes between claimants
Before distributing a joint account, Morgan Stanley may recover from it the costs, including attorneys' fees, of any dispute among the owners or their representatives or heirs.3
- Fees
IRA termination fees are not charged if the account is distributed in any year following the owner's death.5
Sources5
- 1.IRA Distribution Form, (02/2026) RETIRACD, NY CS 10909090 02/2026
- 2.Beneficiary Overview: For Beneficiaries of Employees Outside of the United States, CRC 4093762 02/2025
- 3.Client Agreement (in the Retirement Plan Manager Account Application and Agreement), RPM APPLICATION AND AGREEMENT (02/2026), NY CS 10923486 02/2026
- 4.Notifying us of someone's death (E*TRADE)
- 5.Important Account Information for Full-Service Accounts, (09/2026) GWMINAI, NY CS 2838877-7774233 08/26
Morgan Stanley can be reached by phone at 1-888-454-3965 for questions throughout the claims process.
Sources
Data sourced from Morgan Stanley primary sources (19 pages reviewed). How we research.
Morgan Stanley death claims support
Phone
Toll-free
E*TRADE Beneficiary Services (E*TRADE accounts)
E*TRADE Beneficiary Services (outside the U.S.)
Client Relations (escalation)
Senior Investor Helpline
Hours
Mailing address
Website
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