What to do when a Wells Fargo Advisors account holder dies
Report the death to Wells Fargo Advisors at 1-800-662-8211
After an account holder at Wells Fargo Advisors 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 Wells Fargo Advisors at 1-800-662-8211 with the proper legal authority documents.
The claim process can be initiated by phone at 1-800-662-8211 or by sending documentation to WTWFASClientContact@firstclearing.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 Wells Fargo Advisors:
Filing a claim
- Through the Wells Fargo online death notification form
- Through the advisor on the most recent client statement
- Through the brokerage line for the account (WellsTrade 1-800-662-8211; Wells Fargo Advisors 1-800-603-1584)
- Use the Wells Fargo online death notification form, which prompts for the death certificate and any additional documents
- For an investment account with a Wells Fargo financial advisor, contact that advisor
- Email them to WTWFASClientContact@firstclearing.com or fax them to (844) 879-1439
- WellsTrade: 1-800-662-8211
- Wells Fargo Advisors: 1-800-603-1584
- Wells Fargo Private Bank accounts: 1-877-646-8560
- The WellsTrade estate checklist lists (866) 662-8211
- Wells Fargo Advisors, Attention: MAC N9160-01P, PO Box 77046, Minneapolis, MN 55480-9902
Required Documents
- Death certificate, for all account typesThe WellsTrade checklist asks for a legible death certificate.
- Affidavit of Domicile, for all account typesMust be notarized and include a jurat if notarized in California.
- Signed Letter of Authorization, for individual accounts without TOD, joint accounts with rights of survivorship, and tenants-in-common accountsIf more than one executor was appointed, all must sign unless the court document states the executors can act independently.
- Request for Distribution of Eligible Assets from a Transfer on Death (TOD) Account form, for TOD accountsMust be notarized and include a jurat if notarized in California.
- IRA Beneficiary Claim Form, for IRAsOne per beneficiary.
- Surviving Child Certification Form, for IRAs, if there is no surviving spouse or contingent beneficiary designatedSigned by the executor, trustee or legal representative.
- WellsTrade IRA Beneficiary Disclaimer Certification, for an IRA beneficiary who is disclaiming assets
- Voided check, for an IRA beneficiary's account that requests an ACH
- Receiving firm's transfer paperwork with custodial acceptance letter, for an IRA transferred to another firm
- Inheritance tax waiver, if neededObtained from the state website.
- Probate documentation, a small estate affidavit, or a court order, for a sole-owned account if no beneficiary is named on the accountProbate documentation is most commonly a court-issued document appointing an executor or administrator.
- Certification of Trustee naming a successor trustee, for a trust accountIn some circumstances, the section of the trust agreement that names the successor trustee is required.
- Affidavit of Non-US Resident Decedent's Domicile and Gross Estate Assets, for a decedent who was not domiciled in or a resident of the United StatesIf it is not executed before a notary, it must be apostilled or legalized in the country where it was executed.
Claims Contact
Website: Online portal →
Forms Wells Fargo Advisors issues4
- Letter of Authorization (LOA)
Available to download.1
- Affidavit of Domicile
Completed by the executor, administrator, personal representative, beneficiary, trustee or survivor. Available to download. Must be notarized.2
- IRA Beneficiary Surviving Child Certification
Completed by the authorized party the IRA owner designated, or the executor, trustee or legal representative. Available to download. Must be notarized.3
- Affidavit of Non-US Resident Decedent's Domicile and Gross Estate Assets
Available to download.4
What happens to each kind of account3
- Payable-on-death account
On a Transfer on Death account, assets are distributed in kind by the percentages in the most recent TOD agreement accepted; they are not liquidated to distribute cash. Living beneficiaries are tenants in common from the last owner's death until distribution.5
Securities not eligible for TOD registration go to the last owner's estate, which requires letters testamentary or similar documentation. Fractional shares are sold unless beneficiaries give written instructions, and a beneficiary who cannot be located has their share kept in the owner's name.5
- IRA
If no designated beneficiary survives or none is on record, the IRA goes to the spouse, then the surviving children as determined under state law, then the estate.6
When surviving children are the default beneficiaries, an executor, trustee or other authorized party must certify their names in writing. If there is no authorized party, a court order may be required.6
- Investment account
If the account holder dies while residing outside the U.S., Wells Fargo Advisors may require a legal opinion, an ancillary proceeding or IRS transfer certificates, and the estate or heirs pay those costs, including attorneys' fees.7
For a WellsTrade or Intuitive Investor account, it may be necessary to open a new account to receive the funds.8
Accounts handled elsewhere1
- Wells Fargo Private Bank
Wells Fargo Private Bank accounts9
Phone: 1-877-646-8560
What Wells Fargo Advisors's agreement and guidance say8
- What it does when notified
Wells Fargo Advisors begins processing a request once it receives the necessary documents and has validated that the representative is entitled to act for the deceased customer.8
After the last owner of a TOD account dies, no activity is permitted until Wells Fargo Advisors receives legal proof of death of all owners, its distribution request form for each beneficiary, any required waiver of inheritance or estate taxes, and any other documents it deems necessary.5
- How proceeds are paid
The Letter of Authorization says "Transfer requests from deceased accounts can only be One-Time Instructions."1
- Disputes between claimants
If Wells Fargo Advisors cannot determine how property in a joint account should be distributed after one owner dies, it may freeze the account until the matter is resolved or decided by an arbitrator or court.7
If a beneficiary of a TOD account disputes the distribution, or creditors, a spouse, the executor or heirs make claims, Wells Fargo Advisors may restrict the account until the parties settle their rights by court order, arbitration or another way it accepts.5
- Debts owed to the institution
On the account holder's death, the WellsTrade agreement lets Wells Fargo Advisors sell assets in the account, cancel open orders and close outstanding contracts, and apply the proceeds to what is owed to it.7
Distributions from a TOD account may be reduced for a margin or debit balance, and a loan secured by the account must be paid in full or modified before any distribution.5
- Refusing an inheritance
A share of a TOD account that a beneficiary disclaims is treated as if that beneficiary died before the account owner.5
- Payment to a minor or incapacitated beneficiary
If a minor beneficiary of a TOD account has no UTMA custodian able to accept, Wells Fargo Advisors may let the minor's guardian designate one, require a court-appointed guardian or conservator, or distribute to an existing UTMA account for the minor.5
- Who can get account information
The TOD agreement authorizes release of a copy of the agreement, with the beneficiaries' names, or a 1099 form to the beneficiaries, the estate's executor or representative, or a small estate affiant on request.5
- Which state governs the account
The WellsTrade agreement says legal ownership of the account is governed by the laws of the account holder's state of residence.7
Sources9
- 1.Letter of Authorization (LOA) (588287), 588287 (Rev 20 - 05/26)
- 2.Affidavit of Domicile (542661), 542661 (Rev 24 - 02/26)
- 3.IRA Beneficiary Surviving Child Certification (583026), 583026 (Rev 08 - 08/26)
- 4.Affidavit of Non-US Resident Decedent's Domicile and Gross Estate Assets (593931), 593931 (Rev 02 - 08/23)
- 5.Transfer on Death Application and Agreement (585797), 585797 (Rev 19 - 07/26)
- 6.Traditional IRA Disclosure Statement and Custodial Agreement (544408), 544408 (Rev 31 - 05/26)
- 7.WellsTrade General Account Agreement and Disclosure Document (589852), 589852 (Rev 62 - 09/26)
- 8.Loss of a Loved One
- 9.Estate Care Center
The WellsTrade estate checklist says to allow 5-6 business days to process the claim.
Wells Fargo Advisors can be reached by phone at 1-800-662-8211, email at WTWFASClientContact@firstclearing.com, and fax at 1-844-879-1439 for questions throughout the claims process.
Sources
Data sourced from Wells Fargo Advisors primary sources (21 pages reviewed). How we research.
Wells Fargo Advisors death claims support
Phone
WellsTrade estate processing
Wells Fargo Advisors (advisor-held) accounts
Wells Fargo Private Bank accounts
Wells Fargo Estate Care Center
Fax
Mailing address
Website
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