How Do I Open an Estate Account at LMCU?
LMCU opens estate accounts for a court-appointed executor or administrator. The account is opened in a branch. The documents it asks for, what the account costs, and the steps it lists are below.
Opening an estate account at LMCU
Account type: Decedent Estate membership
Where to open it
In a branch
How it opens
- In a branch
- Available
Who can open it
- Existing customer
- Required
- Membership
- Required
Documents to bring
- Original death certificate ("Original Death Certification")
- Proof that the deceased individual was a member with LMCU prior to death
- Letters of Personal Representative (Michigan residents only)
- Letter of Testamentary (Florida residents only)
- Tax ID Verification for the estate
- Valid identification (required for all Special Account types)
Steps at LMCU
- 1Call Special Accounts at 616-265-3130, the team for trust, estate, conservatorship and guardianship accounts, or schedule an appointment.
- 2Bring the original death certificate, your court letters (Letters of Personal Representative in Michigan, a Letter of Testamentary in Florida), the estate's Tax ID verification, and valid identification.
- 3Special Accounts then establishes the Decedent Estate membership.
What it costs
LMCU does not state the opening deposit, monthly fee, or fee-waiver balance for an estate account.
- Schedule that applies
- Not stated for estate accounts; LMCU publishes one Service Fees page covering everyday fees and Business & Community Impact checking fees
- Other charges
- Dormant account fee $5.00/mo. after 6 months of no activity
| Account | To open | Monthly fee | Waiver or condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Member Savings | $5 | $300 daily balance; or primary member under 24, direct deposit, VIP Status, or other LMCU accounts | |
| Non-Relationship Account | $5.00/mo. | charged at Age 23+ with under $300 and no other account | |
| Basic Checking | $5.00/mo. | charged on daily balances below $300 | |
| Investor Checking | $10.00/mo. | charged on a daily balance below $2,500 | |
| Business Member Savings | No minimum; one-time $5 membership fee if the business is not already a member | $5 | daily balance of $300 or more |
| Free Checking | No monthly maintenance fee |
Not in LMCU's published guidance
- Whether it can be opened online, by phone, or by mail
- Whether a branch appointment is needed
- Whether every co-executor must sign or appear
- Whether an out-of-state executor can open one
- Whether the account comes with online banking, checks, a debit card, or mobile deposit
- How the deceased's balances reach the estate account
General information about each bank's published estate-account requirements, not legal or banking advice. Requirements vary by state and account type. Consult the institution for its current requirements. Data verified Sep 17, 2026
LMCU's published guidance does not state whether an estate account can be opened online. It states the account can be opened in a branch.
LMCU asks for: Original death certificate ("Original Death Certification"); Proof that the deceased individual was a member with LMCU prior to death; Letters of Personal Representative (Michigan residents only); Letter of Testamentary (Florida residents only); Tax ID Verification for the estate; Valid identification (required for all Special Account types).
LMCU does not state the opening deposit, monthly fee, or fee-waiver balance for an estate account. LMCU's 6 published accounts are listed above with their fees and waivers; the estate account carries the fees of the account it is opened as.
An estate account is a bank account titled to the estate itself — not to the person who died and not to the executor personally. The court-appointed executor or administrator opens it to deposit money owed to the estate (final paychecks, refunds, proceeds from closed accounts), pay the estate's debts and expenses, and distribute what remains. Checks made out to "the Estate of" can only be deposited into an account titled this way.
The estate is its own taxpayer, separate from the person who died. Banks open estate accounts under the estate's Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS, not the deceased's Social Security Number. The free EIN application prepares IRS Form SS-4 for the estate.
Sources
Data sourced from LMCU primary sources (8 pages reviewed). How we research.
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Forms for Settling an Estate
Free forms for settling an estate: the probate petition, small estate affidavit, notice to creditors, inventory, and closing forms.
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.
Estate Inventory
Prepare the probate inventory of estate property — every asset at its date-of-death value, composed to your state's statute, with the state's filing or delivery instructions.
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 Much Can an Executor Charge?
Calculate how much an executor can charge for administering an estate.
Can I Self-File Probate?
Whether your state lets you open probate yourself, and what it costs with a lawyer and without one.
How Do I Get Appointed as Executor?
See the court, petition, bond, and documents needed to be appointed and receive your Letters.
What Are the Creditor Claim Deadlines?
Find creditor claim deadlines, notice requirements, and payment priority order for your state.
What Happens When an Estate Is Insolvent?
See the order your state pays an insolvent estate's debts and which claims go unpaid.
What Is the Estate's Personal Property Worth for Probate?
Estimate the fair market value of household items for probate and see how it affects fees.
