What to do when a Washington Trust account holder dies
Contact Washington Trust's Washington Trust Wealth Management — 3-step process, 7 required documents, and pod beneficiaries can typically access funds once death certificate and id are verified. estate accounts require probate court documentation, which varies by state.
Customer Solutions Center
Phone800-475-2265
Emailinfo@washtrust.com
Mailing Address
23 Broad Street, Westerly, RI 02891
Washington Trust Wealth Management
Phone800-582-1076
Mailing Address
23 Broad Street, Westerly, RI 02891
WebsiteLearn more→
Customer Solutions Center
Phone800-475-2265
Toll-Free800-475-2265
Mailing Address
Washington Trust Company, 23 Broad Street, Westerly, RI 02891
Verified May 2026
When a Washington Trust 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 Washington Trust's Washington Trust Wealth Management (800-475-2265) to access and distribute the funds.
Before contacting Washington Trust, have the account holder's full name, date of birth, and any available account numbers ready. A certified death certificate is required to initiate the claim.
Deposit, investment & retirement accounts
The death claim process at Washington Trust works as follows:
Filing a claim
1
Notify Washington Trust of the account holder's passing
- Contact Washington Trust by calling 800-475-2265 or visit a branch
- Provide the deceased's full name, date of death, and account information if known
- Submit a certified death certificate (original or certified copy)
2
Submit documentation based on account type
- For POD accounts: beneficiaries provide government-issued photo ID, Social Security number, and certified death certificate to claim funds
- For joint accounts: surviving joint owner retains full access; provide death certificate to update account records
- For estate accounts: executor provides Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from probate court
- For small estates: provide Small Estate Affidavit if estate qualifies under Rhode Island law (estates under $15,000)
3
Receive claim review and asset distribution
- For trust accounts: successor trustee provides trust documentation with successor trustee provisions and identification
- Washington Trust reviews documentation and processes the claim
- Assets distributed per beneficiary designation, trust terms, or estate instructions
Required Documents
- Certified death certificate (original or certified copy)
- Government-issued photo ID for claimant
- Social Security number or tax ID of claimant
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (for estate accounts)
- Small Estate Affidavit (if estate qualifies under state law)
- Trust documents with successor trustee provisions (if trust-owned account)
- Court order or other documentation as deemed necessary by Washington Trust
Joint accounts with right of survivorship pass automatically to the surviving owner. For accounts managed through Washington Trust Wealth Management, contact your wealth advisor directly or call 800-582-1076.
Mortgage and home lending
Mortgages and home equity loans are liabilities, not assets. They do not have beneficiaries and cannot be retitled to a trust. When a borrower dies, the loan obligation transfers with the property to whoever inherits it. Under the federal Garn-St. Germain Act, the lender cannot accelerate the loan or call it due when the property transfers to a surviving spouse, child, or the borrower’s revocable trust.
1
Report the borrower's death to Washington Trust
- Call 800-475-2265 or visit a branch to notify the bank
- Provide the deceased borrower's full legal name, Social Security number, and loan number
- Submit a certified copy of the death certificate
2
Complete the Successor in Interest process
- Request Successor in Interest documentation from Washington Trust's mortgage servicing department
- Complete and return the Successor in Interest form with documentation proving your ownership interest in the property (e.g., probated will, court order, deed, or trust document)
- Washington Trust will review your documentation and confirm your status as a Successor in Interest
3
Manage the mortgage going forward
- Once confirmed, discuss options: continue making payments, apply for loss mitigation, assume the loan, refinance, or pay off the balance
- Continue making monthly mortgage payments during the review process to avoid default
Required Documents
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID for the heir or personal representative
- Completed Successor in Interest form
- Documentation proving ownership interest in the property (one or more of the following): probated will naming you as heir, court order of succession, recorded deed transferring ownership, trust document showing you as successor trustee or beneficiary
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if going through probate)
- Marriage certificate (if surviving spouse)
Under the federal Garn-St. Germain Depository Institutions Act (12 U.S.C. 1701j-3), Washington Trust cannot enforce a due-on-sale clause when the property transfers to a surviving spouse, child, relative upon death, or the borrower's revocable living trust.
Expected timelines at Washington Trust: POD beneficiaries can typically access funds once death certificate and ID are verified. Estate accounts require probate court documentation, which varies by state. Delays are almost always caused by incomplete paperwork—gathering all required documents before filing the initial claim helps avoid back-and-forth.
Washington Trust requires several documents to process a claim, including Certified death certificate (original or certified copy), Government-issued photo ID for claimant, and Social Security number or tax ID of claimant, 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 Washington Trust branch or call the Customer Solutions Center at 800-475-2265 to request a Payable-on-Death (POD) beneficiary designation form. Provide each beneficiary full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, and relationship. Specify primary and contingent beneficiaries with percentage allocations. For trusts as beneficiary, provide the trust name, date established, and EIN. The most recent designation supersedes any prior designation.
For POD accounts, beneficiaries need a certified death certificate and government-issued photo ID. For joint accounts, the surviving owner provides a death certificate to update records. For estate accounts, the executor provides Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration. For small estates under $15,000 in Rhode Island, a Small Estate Affidavit may be used. For trust-owned accounts, provide the trust documents and successor trustee identification. Contact 800-475-2265 or visit a branch.
Under the federal Garn-St. Germain Act (12 U.S.C. 1701j-3), Washington Trust cannot enforce a due-on-sale clause when property transfers to a surviving spouse, child, relative upon death, or the borrower's revocable living trust. Call 800-475-2265 to report the death and request Successor in Interest documentation. Once confirmed, you can continue payments, apply for loss mitigation, assume the loan, refinance, or pay off the balance.
Washington Trust's Customer Solutions Center can be reached by phone at 800-475-2265 for questions throughout the claims process.
If the deceased held multiple Washington Trust accounts, each may require a separate claim or have different documentation requirements. The Washington Trust Wealth Management can confirm which accounts require individual attention and which can be processed together.
Customer Solutions Center
Phone800-475-2265
Emailinfo@washtrust.com
Mailing Address
23 Broad Street, Westerly, RI 02891
Washington Trust Wealth Management
Phone800-582-1076
Mailing Address
23 Broad Street, Westerly, RI 02891
WebsiteLearn more→
Customer Solutions Center
Phone800-475-2265
Toll-Free800-475-2265
Mailing Address
Washington Trust Company, 23 Broad Street, Westerly, RI 02891
Verified May 2026
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