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What to do when a Venmo account holder dies

Report the death to Venmo Support at 1-855-812-4430

After an account holder at Venmo dies, accounts with beneficiary designations or trust ownership transfer to the designated recipients without probate. Solely-owned accounts require the estate's representative to contact Venmo Support at 1-855-812-4430 with the proper legal authority documents.

Before contacting Venmo, have the account holder's full name, date of birth, and any available account numbers ready.

Deposit, investment & retirement accounts

The death claim process at Venmo works as follows:

Filing a claim

1
Contact Venmo Support to close the account.
  • In the Venmo app, go to Me > Settings > Get Help > Chat With Us and ask for an agent.
  • The Contact Us page lists other options, including Venmo general support at (855) 812-4430, every day 8 AM - 8 PM CT.
  • Give the deceased person's full first and last name and the email address and/or phone number on their Venmo account.
  • Once Venmo locates the account, it states whether more documentation is needed.
2
Provide the documents Venmo requests.
  • At a minimum, Venmo needs a copy of the death certificate.
  • If there is money or crypto in the account, Venmo may also request a photo ID, proof of address, legal documentation of authority to act for the estate and an IRS Form W-9 for the estate.
3
Upload documents through the secure link, not by email.
  • Venmo asks that documents not be emailed to Support. After connecting with an agent, the requester receives a secure document upload link.
4
Close any Venmo Credit Card with Synchrony Bank first.
  • If the deceased person had a Venmo Credit Card, the card needs to be closed before Venmo can close the Venmo account.
  • Synchrony, the issuing bank for the Venmo Credit Card, offers an online form to notify the bank of a cardholder's passing.

Required Documents

  • Copy of the death certificateVenmo needs this at a minimum.
  • Deceased person's full name and the email address or phone number on the Venmo account
  • Valid government-issued photo ID of the person contacting Venmo, if there is money or crypto in the account, on request
  • Proof of address, if there is money or crypto in the account, on requestVenmo uses it to issue a check to the address provided if there is money in the account.
  • Legal documentation of authority to act on behalf of the estate, if there is money or crypto in the account, on requestSuch as a Probate Court order appointing an executor, estate administrator documentation, or Letters of Administration.
  • IRS Form W-9 for the estate, if there is money or crypto in the account, on requestThe form can be obtained from the IRS website.

What happens to each kind of account2

Stored balance

If there is money in the account, Venmo issues a check to the address provided with the proof of address.1

Venmo does not give access to or transfer ownership of a Venmo account to anyone other than the original account holder.1

Credit card

A Venmo Credit Card needs to be closed before Venmo can close the Venmo account.1

Accounts handled elsewhere1

Synchrony Bank

Issues the Venmo Credit Card and offers an online form to notify the bank of a cardholder's passing1

What Venmo's agreement and guidance say1

Dormant and unclaimed accounts

The User Agreement says that if no one logs in to a personal account "for two or more years," Venmo may close it and send the funds to the primary address or, if required, escheat them to the state of residency.2

Not in Venmo's published guidance3

  • A claim form
  • How long a claim takes
  • Terms in its agreements for a customer's death

Sources2

Download instructions for the whole estate

Lending products

Credit cards and other lending products are liabilities, not assets. Outstanding balances become debts of the estate. These accounts do not have beneficiaries and cannot be retitled to a trust.

1
Notify Synchrony Bank of the cardholder's death through its online form.
  • Synchrony, the issuing bank for the Venmo Credit Card, offers an online form to notify the bank of a cardholder's passing.
  • Synchrony updates the account record when the submission is received.
  • Venmo states the card needs to be closed before Venmo can close the Venmo account.
  • For other Venmo Credit Card questions, Venmo lists Synchrony Bank at 855-878-6462, with agents available 24 hours a day.
2
Complete the form.
  • Required fields: cardholder name, address, city and ZIP code; next of kin or representative name and phone number; and the submitter's name.
  • Executor and attorney names (if applicable), the attorney phone number and the last 4 digits of the account number and of the Social Security number are not required fields.
  • To expedite the process, a copy of the death certificate may be uploaded (PNG, JPG or PDF, 10 megabytes in total).
  • After submission the form shows a submission ID, and Synchrony may reach back to the representative if there are additional questions.

Required Documents

  • Copy of the death certificate, optionalMay be uploaded with the form to expedite the process (PNG, JPG or PDF).

Claims Contact

Forms Venmo issues1

What happens to each kind of account2

Credit card

Venmo states the card needs to be closed before it can close the Venmo account.2

Rewards

Earned cash back not yet transferred to the Venmo account can be forfeited if the card account is closed or suspended, or if the Venmo account is closed or unlinked.3

Sources3

Download instructions for the whole estate

Venmo Support can be reached by phone at 1-855-812-4430 for questions throughout the claims process.

SimplyTrustSimplyTrust Editorial·

Sources

Data sourced from Venmo primary sources (23 pages reviewed). How we research.

Venmo death claims support

Venmo Support

Hours

Daily 8:00 AM-8:00 PM CT
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