What to do when a State Street account holder dies
Report the death to State Street's Shareholder Service Center at 1-800-242-0134
When an account holder at State Street passes away, the next step depends on how the investment 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 State Street's Shareholder Service Center (1-800-242-0134) to access and distribute the funds.
To start, call State Street at 1-800-242-0134. Have the account holder's full name, account numbers, and the death certificate ready before you call.
Death claim process
The death claim process at State Street works as follows:
Filing a claim
- Choose Option 1 (redeem immediately) or Option 2 (reregister to a new account; a Non-IRA Application may be required)
- Select the payee's or new owner's relationship: Estate, Beneficiary of the Estate, Surviving Owner, Successor/Surviving Trustee, Trust, TOD/POD Beneficiary, or Other
- Indicate whether a Tax Identification Number was issued for the estate
- All signatures must be Medallion Signature Guaranteed
- The form directs signers to contact their state tax department for inheritance tax waiver filing requirements before completing it
- Satisfactory evidence of the owner's death (for example, a certified copy of the death certificate)
- A signature-guaranteed letter of instruction signed by the beneficiary
- A New Account Application (if keeping the account) or a Form W-9 (if liquidating)
- Select lump sum, life-expectancy distributions, 10-year distributions, or (surviving spouse only) transfer to an IRA in the spouse's name
- The life-expectancy, 10-year and spousal options require an IRA Application unless the spouse has an existing IRA
- An estate beneficiary has only lump sum, 5-year, or decedent-life-expectancy distributions
- Signatures must be Medallion Signature Guaranteed; a notary public is not an acceptable guarantor
- Regular mail: State Street Global Advisors, c/o U.S. Bank Global Fund Services, PO Box 219238, Kansas City, MO 64121-9238
- Overnight delivery: State Street Global Advisors, c/o U.S. Bank Global Fund Services, 801 Pennsylvania Ave Suite 219238, Kansas City, MO 64105-1307
Required Documents
- Survivor Reregistration and Redemption Options Form, for accounts that are not IRAsAll signatures must be Medallion Signature Guaranteed.
- Non-IRA Application, if the shares are reregistered to a new accountMay be required.
- Beneficiary Payout Form for IRA Assets, for IRA accountsSignatures must be Medallion Signature Guaranteed. A notary public is not an acceptable guarantor.
- IRA Application, for the life-expectancy, 10-year and spousal options, unless the spouse has an existing IRA
- Evidence of the owner's death, for a TOD transferSatisfactory evidence, for example a certified copy of the death certificate.
- Signature-guaranteed letter of instruction signed by the beneficiary, for a TOD transfer
- New Account Application, for a TOD transfer, to keep the shares
- Form W-9, for a TOD transfer, to liquidate
- Certified copy of the co-owner's death certificate, for a surviving joint owner reregistering a TOD-registered accountSent with a signature-guaranteed letter of instruction.
- Affidavit of domicile, for a surviving joint owner reregistering a TOD-registered account
- Inheritance tax waivers, for a surviving joint owner reregistering a TOD-registered account, if required
- Voided check or deposit slip, when proceeds are paid by wire or ACH to new bank information
Forms State Street issues2
- Survivor Reregistration and Redemption Options Form
Available to download.1
- Beneficiary Payout Form for IRA Assets
Available to download.2
What happens to each kind of account4
- Investment account
SPDR ETF shares are held in brokerage accounts. State Street's survivor forms cover only accounts held directly with its funds' transfer agent.3
On an Elfun Funds account that is not an IRA, the Survivor Reregistration and Redemption Options Form offers two options: redeem immediately, or reregister to a new account.1
- Payable-on-death account
On a TOD-registered account, the transfer agent processes the transfer to the designated beneficiaries once it receives evidence of the owner's death, the beneficiary's signature-guaranteed letter of instruction, and a New Account Application or Form W-9.4
- Joint account with survivorship
A surviving joint owner of a TOD-registered account directs reregistration with a signature-guaranteed letter of instruction, a certified copy of the co-owner's death certificate, an affidavit of domicile and, if required, inheritance tax waivers.4
- IRA
The Beneficiary Payout Form for IRA Assets offers a lump sum, life-expectancy distributions, 10-year distributions or, for a surviving spouse only, a transfer to an IRA in the spouse's name.2
An estate that is the beneficiary has only lump sum, 5-year or decedent-life-expectancy distributions. For 5-year or life-expectancy distributions, the form states the estate must remain open until the account has a zero balance.2
What State Street's agreement and guidance say2
Sources4
- 1.Survivor Reregistration and Redemption Options Form, updated 05/2026
- 2.Beneficiary Payout Form for IRA Assets
- 3.Forms and documents (servicing forms index)
- 4.Transfer on death designation form, updated 09/2025
State Street's Shareholder Service Center can be reached by phone at 1-800-242-0134 for questions throughout the claims process.
Sources
Data sourced from State Street primary sources (15 pages reviewed). How we research.
State Street death claims support
Shareholder Service Center (survivor reregistration and IRA beneficiary payouts)
Phone
Hours
Mailing address
Website
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your State Street 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.
