What to do when a Northern Trust account holder dies
Contact Northern Trust — 10-step process, 8 required documents, and varies by account type; northern trust provides ongoing communication throughout the process
Brokerage Services / Client Services
Phone1-312-630-0779
Toll-Free1-866-876-9944
Mailing Address
Northern Trust, P.O. Box 75986, Chicago, IL 60675-5986
Wealth Management
Online Account Assistance
Northern Funds Center
Loss Mitigation / Payment Difficulty
WebsiteLearn more →
Brokerage Services / Client Services
Phone1-312-630-0779
Toll-Free1-866-876-9944
Mailing Address
Northern Trust, P.O. Box 75986, Chicago, IL 60675-5986
Wealth Management
Online Account Assistance
Northern Funds Center
Loss Mitigation / Payment Difficulty
WebsiteLearn more →
Estate Settlement Services
Phone1-888-635-5350
Toll-Free1-888-635-5350
Fax312-557-0411
Mailing Address
The Northern Trust Company, 50 South La Salle Street, Chicago, IL 60603
WebsiteNotify online →
Verified Mar 2026
When a Northern Trust account holder passes away, the next step depends on how the accounts were set up. Accounts with beneficiary designations or trust ownership transfer outside of probate. Accounts titled solely in the deceased's name require the estate's legal representative to work with Northern Trust's Estate Settlement Services (1-888-635-5350) to access and distribute the funds.
Northern Trust provides an online portal for initiating death claims, which can simplify the initial notification and document submission process. Claims can also be started by phone or by mailing the required documents.
Deposit, investment & retirement accounts
Here is the step-by-step death claim process at Northern Trust:
Filing a claim
1Contact Northern Trust at 1-888-635-5350 or visit a local office to report the death
2Provide the deceased's full name, date of birth, date of death, and account numbers if known
3Submit a certified copy of the death certificate
4If account number is unknown, Northern Trust may locate accounts using name and identifying information
5Joint accounts typically become sole property of the surviving account holder
6For accounts with TOD/POD beneficiaries: provide beneficiary identification and complete transfer documentation
7For estate accounts: provide Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from the probate court
8Northern Trust notifies all heirs, legatees, and next of kin
9Regular communication with beneficiaries and detailed account statements provided throughout the process
10Assets distributed to beneficiaries, including marital and family trusts as directed
Required Documents
- Certified death certificate (at least 10 copies recommended)
- Account numbers or identifying information for the deceased
- Government-issued ID for beneficiary, executor, or representative
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if probate is required)
- Trust agreement and trustee acceptance form (for trust accounts)
- Tax Identification Number (EIN) for the estate
- Small Estate Affidavit (if eligible under state law)
- State tax waiver (if required by your state)
Northern Trust estate settlement services include notification of heirs, communication with beneficiaries, asset distribution, and tax preparation. Estate settlement checklist available at: northerntrust.com/content/dam/northerntrust/pws/nt/documents/articles/wealth-management/estate-settlement-checklist.pdf. Brokerage Services line: 1-866-876-9944. Northern Funds Center: 1-800-595-9111.
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. When a borrower dies, the loan obligation transfers with the property to whoever inherits it. Under the federal Garn-St. Germain Act, the lender cannot accelerate the loan or call it due when the property transfers to a surviving spouse, child, or the borrower's revocable trust.
1Notify Northern Trust of the borrower's death by calling the Mortgage Services line at 1-888-289-6542 or the Wealth Management line at 1-888-635-5350
2Provide the deceased borrower's full legal name, date of death, and loan number
3Submit a certified copy of the death certificate
4Submit documentation proving your ownership interest in the property (probated will, court order, deed, or trust document)
5Northern Trust will review your documentation and confirm your status as a Successor in Interest
6Once confirmed, you will have access to loan information and can discuss options: continue making payments, apply for loss mitigation, assume the loan, refinance, or pay off the balance
7If you are having trouble making payments, contact Northern Trust at 1-800-388-5316 for loss mitigation assistance
8Continue making monthly mortgage payments during the review process to avoid default
Required Documents
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID for the heir or personal representative
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if going through probate)
- Documentation proving ownership interest in the property (probated will, court order, deed, or trust document)
- Trust document showing successor trustee or beneficiary (if property held in trust)
- Marriage certificate (if surviving spouse)
Under the federal Garn-St. Germain Depository Institutions Act (12 U.S.C. 1701j-3), Northern Trust cannot enforce a due-on-sale clause when the property transfers to a surviving spouse, child, relative upon death, or the borrower's revocable living trust. Confirmed Successors in Interest are treated as borrowers under CFPB mortgage servicing rules and are entitled to account information, loss mitigation options, and assumption rights. Loss mitigation / payment difficulty line: 1-800-388-5316. Past due mortgage accounts: 1-844-278-7706. Wealth Management: 1-888-635-5350.
Processing timelines at Northern Trust: Varies by account type; Northern Trust provides ongoing communication throughout the process. Incomplete documentation is the most common cause of delays—submitting all required documents with the initial claim helps avoid additional processing time.
Northern Trust requires several documents to process a claim, including Certified death certificate (at least 10 copies recommended), Account numbers or identifying information for the deceased, and Government-issued ID for beneficiary, executor, or representative, and additional documentation depending on the account type. Certified copies are typically needed—photocopies are generally not accepted for death certificates or court documents.
Frequently asked questions
Complete a Transfer on Death Registration Form, available from your Northern Trust advisor or at ntam.northerntrust.com. All registered account owners must sign the form, and a Medallion Signature Guarantee is required for existing accounts. TOD is available for sole owner accounts (natural persons) and joint accounts with rights of survivorship only.
Yes. Payable on Death (POD) beneficiaries can be added to Northern Trust checking, savings, money market, and CD accounts. Visit a Northern Trust office or contact your advisor to complete the POD designation. A Medallion Signature Guarantee is required for existing accounts.
Call 1-888-635-5350 (Monday-Friday 7:00am-9:00pm CT, Saturday-Sunday 7:00am-3:30pm CT) or visit a local Northern Trust office. Provide the deceased's full name, date of birth, date of death, account numbers, and a certified death certificate. If account numbers are unknown, Northern Trust may locate accounts using identifying information.
You will need a certified death certificate, government-issued ID, and the account numbers. For TOD/POD accounts, you will need to complete transfer documentation. For estate claims, you will also need Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from the probate court, a Tax Identification Number (EIN) for the estate, and any state-required tax waivers.
Northern Trust's Estate Settlement Services can be reached by phone at 1-888-635-5350 and fax at 312-557-0411 for questions throughout the claims process.
If the deceased held multiple Northern Trust accounts, each may require a separate claim or have different documentation requirements. The Estate Settlement Services can confirm which accounts require individual attention and which can be processed together.
Brokerage Services / Client Services
Phone1-312-630-0779
Toll-Free1-866-876-9944
Mailing Address
Northern Trust, P.O. Box 75986, Chicago, IL 60675-5986
Wealth Management
Online Account Assistance
Northern Funds Center
Loss Mitigation / Payment Difficulty
WebsiteLearn more →
Brokerage Services / Client Services
Phone1-312-630-0779
Toll-Free1-866-876-9944
Mailing Address
Northern Trust, P.O. Box 75986, Chicago, IL 60675-5986
Wealth Management
Online Account Assistance
Northern Funds Center
Loss Mitigation / Payment Difficulty
WebsiteLearn more →
Estate Settlement Services
Phone1-888-635-5350
Toll-Free1-888-635-5350
Fax312-557-0411
Mailing Address
The Northern Trust Company, 50 South La Salle Street, Chicago, IL 60603
WebsiteNotify online →
Verified Mar 2026
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