What to do when a Wealthfront account holder dies
Report the death to Wealthfront Brokerage at 1-844-995-8437
After an account holder at Wealthfront 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 Wealthfront Brokerage at 1-844-995-8437 with the proper legal authority documents.
Death claim process
Follow these steps to file a death claim with Wealthfront:
Filing a claim
- Fill out Wealthfront's short online form to upload a death certificate and other documents. The form requires signing in with a Wealthfront account or creating a profile.
- Wealthfront reviews the account, including identifying any named beneficiaries, and provides next steps by email.
- Sign the Beneficiary/Executor Identification Form in the presence of a notary public. Each beneficiary with a claim completes a separate form and lists the other beneficiaries.
- Upload documents through the online form, email them to support@wealthfront.com as a scanned PDF, or fax them to 800-366-1679.
- A transfer between Wealthfront accounts uses the Journal Form. A transfer to another institution uses the Wire Request Form.
- An IRA uses the IRA Distribution Form or Roth IRA Distribution Form, or the receiving firm's IRA transfer paperwork.
Required Documents
- Death certificateA copy. The Beneficiary/Executor Identification Form asks for a copy of the official death certificate, clearly legible, with any seal visible.
- Beneficiary/Executor Identification FormNotarized. Each beneficiary with a claim completes a separate form and lists the other beneficiaries.
- Claimant's government-issued photo IDA copy, unexpired, front and back.
- Probate documents (Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration)
- Small Estate Affidavit, if bypassing probate, where the account qualifies
- Letters of Appointment, for an executor
- Complete copy of the will, for an executor, if available
- Complete copy of the will listing the beneficiary, for a beneficiary where Wealthfront's records list no designated beneficiary, or who is authorized by the executorOne of three options for that beneficiary, with a Small Estate Affidavit or a Letter of Authorization from the executor.
- Letter of Authorization from the executor, for a beneficiary where Wealthfront's records list no designated beneficiary, or who is authorized by the executorWith the executor's Letters of Appointment and the first, signature and executor-naming pages of the will. One of three options for that beneficiary.
- Trust documents, for Wealthfront Trust Accounts
- The transfer form for the accountJournal Form, Wire Request Form, IRA Distribution Form, Roth IRA Distribution Form, or the receiving firm's IRA transfer paperwork.
Claims Contact
Website: Online portal →
Forms Wealthfront issues1
- Beneficiary/Executor Identification Form
Completed by the executor, or each beneficiary with a claim on a separate form. Available to download. Must be notarized.1
What happens to each kind of account3
- Joint account with survivorship
Joint accounts are joint tenants with rights of survivorship. On the death of one owner the assets are transferred to the surviving owner.2, 3
- IRA
Wealthfront does not support Inherited or Beneficiary IRA accounts. It can approve a transfer from the deceased person's account to an Inherited IRA for the benefit of the beneficiary at another firm via ACATS.4
- Investment account
Wealthfront does not support Estate accounts. It can approve a transfer from the deceased person's account to an Estate account at another firm via ACATS.4
What Wealthfront's agreement and guidance say2
In most cases up to 3 weeks from the date the required paperwork is received in good order.
Wealthfront Brokerage can be reached by phone at 1-844-995-8437, email at support@wealthfront.com, and fax at 1-800-366-1679 for questions throughout the claims process.
Sources
Data sourced from Wealthfront primary sources (39 pages reviewed). How we research.
Wealthfront death claims support
Wealthfront Brokerage
Phone
Fax
Mailing address
Website
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