What to do when a Public account holder dies
Report the death to Public's Member Support
What happens to Public investment accounts after the account holder dies depends on how each account was titled. Beneficiary-designated and trust-owned accounts transfer directly. Accounts in the deceased's name alone go through the estate, and the executor or administrator works with Public's Member Support to claim the funds.
The claim process can be initiated by phone or by sending documentation to support@public.com. Have the account holder's full name, account numbers, and the death certificate available when making initial contact.
Death claim process
Here is the step-by-step death claim process at Public:
Filing a claim
- Open an estate account.
- Sell and disburse the funds through a third-party distribution form, direct from the decedent's account.
- For a TOD account, distribution to the named TOD beneficiaries upon positive ID validation and receipt of the death certificate.
- For a TOD beneficiary outside the U.S., Public liquidates the account and wires the funds. Additional restrictions may apply depending on the beneficiary's country of residence.
Required Documents
- Death certificate
- Letters Testamentary or other court-appointed documents
- ID of the executor or administrator
- ID of the TOD beneficiary, for a TOD accountDistribution follows positive ID validation and receipt of the death certificate.
- Third-party distribution form, for the sell-and-disburse option
- Inheritance or estate tax waivers and other papers, if Public requires them
What happens to each kind of account1
- Crypto account
Crypto held through zerohash llc is handled under the zerohash User Agreement (Section 11.8). On proof of death zerohash suspends the account.1
A designated fiduciary, trustee, beneficiary or other legally authorized person must open a new zerohash account to receive the assets, unless zerohash transfers them under a court order or other legal requirement.1
Accounts handled elsewhere2
What Public's agreement and guidance say4
- Telling the institution
Section 1.N ("Event of Death") of the Public Brokerage Agreement requires the representative of the estate, or a surviving joint owner, to give immediate written notice of the death.3
- What it does when notified
Open orders are canceled on instruction from the estate's representative or next of kin. Public is not responsible for action taken on those orders before it actually receives notice of the death.3
Public may restrict transactions in the account. It may close out any or all of the decedent's investing accounts without awaiting the appointment of a personal representative and without notice to that representative.3
- Debts owed to the institution
The estate, and any surviving joint owner jointly and severally, remains liable for any net debit balance or loss from transactions initiated before Public received written notice of the death, or incurred in liquidating the account.3
- Fees
Public's fee schedule lists a $200 fee for a TOD account transfer.4
Sources4
- 1.zerohash User Agreement
- 2.Losing a loved one
- 3.Public Brokerage Agreement
- 4.Fee Schedule, Last updated as of September 23, 2026
Typically 3-7 business days for the account transfer, depending on the option chosen, the assets in the account, and the size of the account.
Public's Member Support can be reached by email at support@public.com for questions throughout the claims process.
Sources
Data sourced from Public primary sources (31 pages reviewed). How we research.
Public death claims support
Member Support
Website
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your Public accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
Is this your situation?
Get a complete guide for your specific circumstances.
Forms for Settling an Estate
Free forms for settling an estate: the probate petition, small estate affidavit, notice to creditors, inventory, and closing forms.
Digital Assets Recovery Letter
Prepare a letter requesting a deceased person's online accounts, points, and balances from the program that holds them.
Petition for Probate and Letters
Open probate and ask the court to appoint you and issue Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration.
Notice to Creditors
Notify estate creditors and start the claim period — the published notice plus mailed copies for known creditors.
Renunciation of Executor
Decline an appointment as executor named in a will — the writing filed with the court before anyone is appointed.
Affidavit of Heirship
Prepare the sworn statement of a deceased person's family history and heirs for recording in the county land records, with your state's recording instructions.
Small Estate Affidavit
Collect a small estate's property without probate — the sworn affidavit presented to banks and other holders, with a presentation letter for each.
Tools for Settling an Estate
Free tools for settling an estate: whether probate is needed, executor and trustee pay, creditor deadlines, and inheritance taxes.
How Many Death Certificates Do I Need?
Calculate how many certified death certificates you need and see ordering info for your state.
Do I Need Probate?
Find out if an estate needs probate or qualifies for simplified procedures.
Do I Have to File Tax Returns for Someone Who Died?
Find out which tax returns need to be filed after someone dies and whether tax clearance is required.
How Do I Settle an Estate?
Personalized plan for settling an estate after someone passes away.
What Do I Do When Someone Dies?
A step-by-step checklist for the days, weeks, and months after a death, with state rules noted where they apply.
How Much Are Estate & Inheritance Taxes?
Calculate federal estate tax, state estate tax, and inheritance tax for an estate.
