What to do when a Pelican State CU account holder dies
Report the death to Pelican State CU at 1-800-351-4877
After a member of Pelican State CU dies, Pelican State CU manages the transfer of accounts. POD-designated and trust-owned accounts pass directly to beneficiaries. Accounts held solely in the member's name may require probate court documents—Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration—before funds can be released.
Gather the account holder's full name, date of birth, and any known account or policy numbers before contacting Pelican State CU.
Death claim process
To file a claim after an account holder's death, here is what Pelican State CU requires:
Filing a claim
Required Documents
- Signed Account Change Card or Member Services Request, where Pelican requires one
What happens to each kind of account5
- Account in one name
On an individual account, the owner's interest passes, subject to applicable law, to the owner's estate or to the payable-on-death beneficiary or trust beneficiary (Section 2).1
- Payable-on-death account
When the last owner dies, the account is payable to all surviving payable-on-death or trust beneficiaries. Several surviving beneficiaries own the funds jointly in equal shares without rights of survivorship, unless state law or a documented arrangement provides otherwise (Section 4).1
- Joint account without survivorship
Surviving owners may continue to withdraw funds and transact on the account. A surviving owner's interest is subject to Pelican's statutory lien for the deceased owner's obligations and to any pledge the deceased owner granted (Section 3).1
- IRA
A payable-on-death or trust designation does not apply to IRAs (Section 4); the IRA beneficiary is named separately.1
- Certificate of deposit
Pelican may, at its option, pay a share certificate before maturity without an early withdrawal penalty when an account owner dies.2
State requirements Pelican State CU statesLouisiana
- Louisiana
Pelican's Membership and Account Agreement states that "Louisiana law does not authorize Joint Tenancy with Rights of Survivorship accounts."1
State law on paying a balance without lettersLouisiana
- Louisiana
La. R.S. 6:315.1
Louisiana law permits a credit union to pay from a deceased member's balance on an affidavit, without letters testamentary or letters of administration.La. R.S. 6:315.1Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
Limit: $20,000 held at the institution and $20,000 in total from every holder
Paid to: the surviving spouse and heirs, if any; the heirs, if there is no surviving spouse (in that order)
The section applies where the person died without a will. The section permits the payment. It does not require the credit union to make it. The section sets further conditions.
La. R.S. 9:1514
Louisiana law permits a credit union to pay from a deceased member's balance on an affidavit, without letters testamentary or letters of administration.La. R.S. 9:1514Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
Paid to: surviving spouse
Limit: $10,000 held at the institution and $10,000 in total from every holder
Paid to: major children of the deceased (no surviving spouse)
Limit: $10,000 in total from every holder
The section permits the payment. It does not require the credit union to make it. The section sets further conditions.
What Pelican State CU's agreement and guidance say2
- Payments after the death
Pelican may honor transactions until it knows of a member's death. Even with that knowledge, it may pay checks or drafts drawn on the deceased member's account for ten days after the death, unless a person claiming an interest in the account tells it to stop payment (Section 31).1
- Indemnity a claimant may have to give
Pelican may require anyone claiming funds from a deceased owner's account to indemnify it for losses (Section 31).1
Not in Pelican State CU's published guidance1
- A procedure for reporting a death
Pelican State CU can be reached by phone at 1-800-351-4877 for questions throughout the claims process.
Sources
Data sourced from Pelican State CU primary sources (26 pages reviewed). How we research.
Pelican State CU death claims support
Phone
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