What to do when a OceanFirst account holder dies
Contact OceanFirst's Trust and Asset Management — 9-step process, 7 required documents, and pod beneficiary claims may be processed within a few business days upon receipt of required documents. estate claims requiring probate depend on court timelines.
Retail Customer Services
Phone1-888-623-2698
Mailing Address
OceanFirst Bank, Retail Customer Services, P.O. Box 2009, Toms River, NJ 08754-2009
Debit Card Activation / PIN Reset
Lost/Stolen Debit Card
Fraud Alerts
WebsiteLearn more →
Customer Services / Trust and Asset Management
Phone1-888-623-2698
Emailtrust@oceanfirst.com
Trust & Asset Management
Verified Mar 2026
When a OceanFirst 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 OceanFirst's Trust and Asset Management (1-888-623-2698) to access and distribute the funds.
Gather the account holder's full name, date of birth, and any known account or policy numbers before contacting OceanFirst. A certified death certificate is the primary document required to start any claim.
Death claim process
Here is the step-by-step death claim process at OceanFirst:
Filing a claim
1Contact OceanFirst Bank at 1-888-623-2698 (live agents Monday-Friday 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM ET, Saturday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM ET) or visit a local branch (https://oceanfirst.com/locations) to report the death of an account holder
2Provide a certified copy of the death certificate
3Provide your government-issued photo ID and proof of your relationship to the deceased
4If the account has a named POD beneficiary, the beneficiary presents the death certificate and valid ID to claim funds
5If the account is held in a trust, the successor trustee presents trust documents, death certificate, and ID to gain account access
6If the account has no beneficiary designation and is not in a trust, the executor or administrator must provide Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from the probate court
7For small estates that qualify under state law, a Small Estate Affidavit may be accepted in lieu of probate documents
8Complete any required distribution or claim forms provided by OceanFirst
9Funds are distributed per the applicable legal authority (POD designation, trust terms, or court order)
Required Documents
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID for the claimant
- Proof of relationship to the deceased
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if probate is required)
- Trust agreement and successor trustee documentation (if account held in trust)
- Small Estate Affidavit (if applicable under state law)
- POD beneficiary claim form (provided by OceanFirst)
OceanFirst Bank also offers estate administration services through its Trust and Asset Management department (877-556-6609, trust@oceanfirst.com). As Executor, OceanFirst carries out the instructions of the testator and oversees administrative duties, tax accountings, and management of assets until final distributions are made to beneficiaries. As Agent for Executor, OceanFirst can handle most estate administrative and asset management tasks including marshalling assets, arranging for payment of debts and expenses, executing securities transactions, recordkeeping, and post-mortem planning.
Processing timelines at OceanFirst: POD beneficiary claims may be processed within a few business days upon receipt of required documents. Estate claims requiring probate depend on court timelines.. Incomplete documentation is the most common cause of delays—submitting all required documents with the initial claim helps avoid additional processing time.
OceanFirst requires several documents to process a claim, including Certified copy of the death certificate, Government-issued photo ID for the claimant, and Proof of relationship to the deceased, 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
Visit a local OceanFirst branch or call 1-888-623-2698 to request a POD (Payable on Death) beneficiary designation. Bring your government-issued ID and provide the beneficiary's full name, date of birth, Social Security number, and relationship. POD designations are available on personal checking, savings, money market, and CD accounts.
If the account has a named POD beneficiary, the beneficiary can claim funds by presenting a death certificate and valid ID at a branch. If the account is titled in a trust, the successor trustee takes control by providing trust documents and the death certificate. If neither a beneficiary nor trust is in place, the account goes through probate, requiring Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from the court.
Contact OceanFirst Bank at 1-888-623-2698 (live agents Monday-Friday 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM ET, Saturday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM ET) or visit a local branch. You will need to provide a certified copy of the death certificate, your government-issued ID, and proof of your relationship to the deceased. For trust-held accounts, contact the Trust and Asset Management department at 877-556-6609.
The mortgage obligation does not disappear at death. Heirs who inherit the property also inherit the mortgage. Under the federal Garn-St. Germain Act, the lender cannot call the loan due when the property transfers to a surviving spouse, child, or the borrower's revocable trust. Heirs should contact OceanFirst or the loan servicer to discuss options including loan assumption, continued payments, refinancing, or payoff. For existing loan servicing inquiries, call 855-439-6531.
OceanFirst's Customer Services / Trust and Asset Management can be reached by phone at 1-888-623-2698 and email at trust@oceanfirst.com for questions throughout the claims process.
If the deceased held multiple OceanFirst accounts, each may require a separate claim or have different documentation requirements. The Trust and Asset Management can confirm which accounts require individual attention and which can be processed together.
Retail Customer Services
Phone1-888-623-2698
Mailing Address
OceanFirst Bank, Retail Customer Services, P.O. Box 2009, Toms River, NJ 08754-2009
Debit Card Activation / PIN Reset
Lost/Stolen Debit Card
Fraud Alerts
WebsiteLearn more →
Customer Services / Trust and Asset Management
Phone1-888-623-2698
Emailtrust@oceanfirst.com
Trust & Asset Management
Verified Mar 2026
Tools for settling a OceanFirst estate
Calculators and checklists to help navigate estate settlement after a OceanFirst account holder passes away.
How Do I Settle an Estate?
Get a personalized checklist for settling an estate after someone passes away. Covers trust administration, probate, and intestate estates.
Get Checklist
How Much Does Probate Cost?
Estimate attorney fees, executor fees, court costs, and timeline for probating an estate in your state. See if the estate qualifies for simplified probate procedures.
Use Calculator
How Much Can an Executor Charge?
Calculate how much an executor (personal representative) can charge for administering an estate. See if your state has statutory fees or uses reasonable compensation.
Use Calculator
How Many Death Certificates Do I Need?
Calculate how many certified death certificates you need based on the assets and accounts you need to close. See state-specific ordering information.
Use Calculator
Do I Need Probate?
Answer a few questions to find out if an estate needs full probate, qualifies for simplified probate, or can avoid probate entirely with a small estate affidavit.
Check Now
Who Inherits Without a Will?
Find out who inherits your estate and how much they get if you die without a will. Based on your state's intestate succession laws.
Use Calculator