What to do when a Navigant CU account holder dies
Contact Navigant CU — 6-step process, 6 required documents, and processing time varies by account type and complexity. pod and totten trust accounts typically process faster than probate-dependent accounts. contact navigant for specific timelines.
Phone(401) 233-4700
Mailing Address
Navigant Credit Union, 1005 Douglas Pike, Smithfield, RI 02917
Telephone Banking
Credit Card Support
WebsiteLearn more→
Phone(401) 233-4700
Mailing Address
Navigant Credit Union, 1005 Douglas Pike, Smithfield, RI 02917
Telephone Banking
Credit Card Support
WebsiteLearn more→
Death Claims
Phone(401) 233-4700
Fax(401) 233-4715
Mailing Address
Navigant Credit Union, 1005 Douglas Pike, Smithfield, RI 02917
Verified Apr 2026
The Death Claims at Navigant CU 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.
The first step is contacting Navigant CU at (401) 233-4700 with the account holder's full name, account numbers, and a certified death certificate in hand.
Death claim process
To file a claim after an account holder's death, here is what Navigant CU requires:
Filing a claim
1
Contact Navigant Credit Union by phone at 401-233-4700 or visit any branch location
2
Obtain a certified death certificate from the funeral home or Rhode Island Department of Health
3
Determine the claim process based on account type:
- Joint accounts with right of survivorship: the surviving owner retains access to the account
- POD/Totten Trust accounts: beneficiaries present a death certificate and government-issued ID matching the beneficiary designation to claim funds
- Accounts without POD or joint ownership: provide Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from the Rhode Island Probate Court
- Small estates: inquire about Rhode Island small estate affidavit procedures (R.I. Gen. Laws 33-24)
4
Complete any required claim forms provided by Navigant
5
Submit all documents:
- In person at any branch location
- By mail to: Navigant Credit Union, 1005 Douglas Pike, Smithfield, RI 02917
6
Navigant reviews documentation and processes the account settlement
Required Documents
- Certified death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID for claimant
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if probate required)
- Small estate affidavit (if applicable under Rhode Island law)
- Trust documentation (if successor trustee is claiming trust accounts)
- IRA beneficiary distribution forms (for retirement accounts)
Account types addressed in the death claim process include individual accounts, joint accounts with right of survivorship, POD accounts, Totten Trust accounts, trust accounts, and IRA accounts. For IRA beneficiary claims, separate distribution paperwork is required per the IRA agreement. Navigant may require additional documentation depending on the specific circumstances of the estate.
How long the process takes at Navigant CU: Processing time varies by account type and complexity. POD and Totten Trust accounts typically process faster than probate-dependent accounts. Contact Navigant for specific timelines. 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 Navigant CU includes Certified death certificate, Government-issued photo ID for claimant, and Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if probate required), along with additional paperwork that varies by account type. All death certificates and court documents must be certified copies.
Frequently asked questions
Both POD accounts and Totten Trust accounts allow funds to pass directly to named beneficiaries without probate upon the death of all account owners. A Totten Trust account is established without a formal trust document -- Navigant requires only the beneficiary's name and residential address. In both cases, beneficiaries have no interest in or access to the account while the owner is living. Upon the death of the last surviving owner, funds are disbursed to then-living beneficiaries in equal shares.
Navigant IRA accounts (Traditional, Roth, and IRA Certificate) pass to beneficiaries through a separate IRA beneficiary designation, independent of any POD or Totten Trust designation on deposit accounts. IRAs cannot be titled to a trust, but a trust can be named as IRA beneficiary. Upon the death of the IRA owner, the named beneficiary must complete separate IRA distribution paperwork per the IRA agreement. Navigant does not provide tax or estate planning advice; consult an attorney or tax advisor about trust-as-IRA-beneficiary implications, including the SECURE Act's 10-year distribution rule.
If a Navigant account has no POD beneficiary designation and no surviving joint owner with right of survivorship, the account balance becomes part of the decedent's probate estate. The claimant must provide either Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration issued by the Rhode Island Probate Court before Navigant will release funds. For smaller estates, Rhode Island's small estate affidavit procedure (R.I. Gen. Laws 33-24) may apply. Adding a POD designation or titling accounts to a trust avoids this outcome.
Navigant CU's Death Claims can be reached by phone at (401) 233-4700 and fax at (401) 233-4715 for questions throughout the claims process.
Multiple Navigant CU accounts may mean multiple claims. Some account types can be processed together, but others require their own documentation. Check with the Death Claims to confirm what applies.
Phone(401) 233-4700
Mailing Address
Navigant Credit Union, 1005 Douglas Pike, Smithfield, RI 02917
Telephone Banking
Credit Card Support
WebsiteLearn more→
Phone(401) 233-4700
Mailing Address
Navigant Credit Union, 1005 Douglas Pike, Smithfield, RI 02917
Telephone Banking
Credit Card Support
WebsiteLearn more→
Death Claims
Phone(401) 233-4700
Fax(401) 233-4715
Mailing Address
Navigant Credit Union, 1005 Douglas Pike, Smithfield, RI 02917
Verified Apr 2026
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