What to do when a Navy Federal account holder dies
Report the death to Navy Federal's Survivor Support at 1-800-883-3323
The Survivor Support at Navy Federal 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.
Deposit, investment & retirement accounts
Follow these steps to file a death claim with Navy Federal:
Filing a claim
Required Documents
- Death certificateNavy Federal's Survivor's Checklist advises ordering at least 10 certified copies.
- Court documents naming the executor or administrator, to open an Estate Account
- Affidavit, where the state allows the estate to be handled without a court documentA notarized affidavit names the recipient of a certificate when there is no estate.
- Form NFCU 678AS and an EIN for the trust, for trust-titled accounts, from a successor trustee
- Form NFCU 406 and an EIN for the estate, to open an Estate Account
Forms Navy Federal issues3
- Estate Account Application (Form NFCU 406)
Completed by the executor or administrator. Available to download.1
- Application for Deposit Trust Account for Survivors (Form NFCU 678AS)
Completed by the surviving co-grantor or the successor trustee. Available to download.2
- Deposit Trust Account Closure for Survivors (Form NFCU 678CS)
Completed by a current serving trustee. Available to download.2
What happens to each kind of account10
- Account in one name
If no survivor is designated, a probate court may need to determine how Navy Federal distributes the assets. Some states allow distribution without probate if the estate is valued under a certain amount.3
- Joint account with survivorship
If the deceased person was the primary owner, a joint owner who is eligible for membership may retitle the account, keeping the account number, checks, debit card and Bill Pay payees, or close it. A deceased joint owner is removed from the account.3
The deceased owner's shares pass to the surviving owner. A survivorship designation on the Membership Savings Account applies to all other joint accounts with the same joint owner unless designated otherwise.4
- Joint account without survivorship
The deceased owner's shares pass as part of the deceased owner's estate.4
- Payable-on-death account
The remaining funds are paid to the named beneficiaries, generally without going through probate. On a joint POD account with survivorship, the funds go to the joint owner and reach the beneficiaries only after both owners have died.5
- Trust account
If the trust was set up to control the deceased person's assets, the trustees have decision-making authority over assets shown to be in the trust. If the deceased person was a trustee, Navy Federal asks for direction on replacing them.6
Primary beneficiaries of the trust must be Navy Federal members. If they are not eligible or decline membership, the trust account is dissolved and the funds are transferred to a trust account elsewhere or paid to the beneficiaries.2
- Certificate of deposit
A joint owner with survivorship or a payable-on-death beneficiary may transfer the certificate at the same rate and terms, or take the cash value with no early withdrawal penalty. Otherwise it is cashed out to the estate or transferred as-is; with no estate, the beneficiary on a notarized affidavit is paid.3
- IRA
Options vary by the type of beneficiary, the relationship to the deceased person, and the date of death. The case specialist explains them to the beneficiary.3
- Custodial account (UTMA/UGMA)
If the deceased person was the custodian, a new custodian must be named.6
- Credit card
A co-applicant becomes the primary cardholder and remains responsible for the debt. An authorized user on a card owned solely by the deceased person must stop using it and destroy or return it; otherwise the debt becomes the estate's responsibility.3
On an individual card, payments are not made during settlement, interest does not accrue while Navy Federal determines the amount owed, and charges after the death are the authorized user's responsibility.3
- Loan
A co-applicant on a consumer loan becomes the primary borrower. With no co-applicant and no payment protection plan, verified next of kin may assume the debt in their own name or pay it in full; otherwise the estate owes it and the collateral is returned.3
A co-borrower on a mortgage, fixed equity loan or home equity line of credit becomes the primary borrower.3
State law on paying a balance without letters10 states
- Florida
Permits a credit union to pay up to $2,000 on an affidavitFla. Stat. § 735.303Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
- Georgia
Permits a credit union to pay up to $15,000 on an affidavitO.C.G.A. § 7-1-239Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
- Kentucky
Directs a credit union to pay up to $2,500 on an order of the courtKRS 391.030(2)Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
- Louisiana
Permits a credit union to pay up to $20,000 on an affidavitLa. R.S. 6:315.1Verified Oct 3, 2026View sourceLa. R.S. 6:315.1
Permits a credit union to pay up to $10,000 on an affidavitLa. R.S. 9:1514Verified Oct 3, 2026View sourceLa. R.S. 9:1514
- Mississippi
Permits a credit union to pay up to $12,500 on a signed receipt or releaseMiss. Code Ann. § 81-13-58Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
- New York
Permits a credit union to pay up to $30,000 on an affidavitN.Y. SCPA § 1310Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
- Pennsylvania
Directs a credit union to pay up to $20,000 on an affidavit20 Pa.C.S. § 3101(b)Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
- Tennessee
Permits a credit union to pay up to $15,000 on proof the institution acceptsT.C.A. § 45-2-708Verified Oct 3, 2026View sourceT.C.A. § 45-2-708
Permits a credit union to pay up to $10,000 on proof the institution acceptsT.C.A. § 30-2-103(b)(2)Verified Oct 3, 2026View sourceT.C.A. § 30-2-103(b)(2)
- Texas
Permits a credit union to pay up to $5,000 on an order of the courtTex. Est. Code § 152.051Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
- Washington
Permits a credit union to pay up to $2,500 on an affidavitRCW 30A.22.190(2)Verified Oct 3, 2026View sourceRCW 30A.22.190(2)
Permits a credit union to pay on an affidavit; the section sets no dollar limitRCW 30A.22.190(1)Verified Oct 3, 2026View sourceRCW 30A.22.190(1)
Permits a credit union to pay up to $1,000 on an affidavitRCW 11.62.030Verified Oct 3, 2026View sourceRCW 11.62.030
Accounts handled elsewhere4
- Navy Federal Mortgage Default Management Branch
A new primary borrower on a mortgage or home equity loan who cannot afford the payments (option 4)3
Phone: 1-888-503-7102
- Navy Federal Real Estate Lending Support
A mortgage or home equity loan with no co-borrower (option 2)3
Phone: 1-800-243-9334
- Navy Federal Student Loan Center
Private student loans and student refinance loans3
Phone: 1-877-304-9302
- CUNA Mutual/TruStage
AD&D insurance (option 2)3
Phone: 1-888-888-0375
What Navy Federal's agreement and guidance say6
- Who can get account information
Account information is given only to people with legal rights to it. A Survivor Support specialist reviews the accounts to determine ownership rights or rights as an estate representative.6
- What it does when notified
Settlement begins once the date of death is confirmed.3
- Powers of attorney
Navy Federal cannot honor a power of attorney after the principal has died; the document expires at death.6
- Deposits after the death
Government benefit overpayments received by direct deposit must be returned.3
- How proceeds are paid
For accounts with balances of $200 or less, no contact is needed; a check made out to the estate is sent.3
Not in Navy Federal's published guidance1
- Whether the death certificate must be certified
Sources6
- 1.Estate Accounts and Estate Account Application (NFCU 406), NFCU 406 (7-26)
- 2.The Trustee(s) Guide to Settling Trust Accounts (NFCU 678D), NFCU 678D (6-26)
- 3.The survivor's guide to account settlement (NFCU 1214), NFCU 1214 (3-26)
- 4.Important Disclosures (NFCU 606), NFCU 606 (6-26)
- 5.Payable on Death (POD) and Deposit Trust Accounts (NFCU 1215e), NFCU 1215e (4-26)
- 6.Survivor Support
Mortgage and home lending
Mortgages and home equity loans are liabilities, not assets. They do not have beneficiaries and cannot be retitled to a trust.
Required Documents
- Death certificate
- Documentation validating the property ownership interest under state law
Claims Contact
Phone: 1-800-243-9334
What happens to each kind of account1
- Loan
A co-borrower automatically becomes the primary borrower.1
Federal law on calling a home loan after a death
These exemptions apply to a loan secured by residential real property containing less than five dwelling units.12 U.S.C. § 1701j-3(d); 12 CFR 191.5(b), 141.14Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
- A lender may not exercise a due-on-sale clause upon a transfer by devise, descent, or operation of law on the death of a joint tenant or tenant by the entirety.12 U.S.C. § 1701j-3(d)(3); 12 CFR 191.5(b)(1)(iii)Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
- A lender may not exercise a due-on-sale clause upon a transfer to a relative resulting from the death of a borrower.12 U.S.C. § 1701j-3(d)(5)Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
- A lender may not exercise a due-on-sale clause upon a transfer where the spouse or children of the borrower become an owner of the property.12 U.S.C. § 1701j-3(d)(6)Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
A federal regulation sets further conditions on these transfers.12 CFR 191.5(b)(1)(v)Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
Not in Navy Federal's published guidance1
- Whether the death certificate must be certified
Sources1
- 1.The survivor's guide to account settlement (NFCU 1214), NFCU 1214 (3-26)
For a Deposit Trust Account, up to 10 business days once the documents and instructions are received.
Navy Federal's Survivor Support can be reached by phone at 1-800-883-3323 and email at survivordocs@navyfederal.org for questions throughout the claims process.
Sources
Data sourced from Navy Federal primary sources (38 pages reviewed). How we research.
Navy Federal death claims support
Survivor Support
Phone
Member and Account Services
Mortgage Default Management Branch
Real Estate Lending Support, no co-borrower
Navy Federal Student Loan Center
Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) claims
Hours
Mailing address
Website
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