Detailed Answer — What to do and why

If a deceased parent’s bank or credit card accounts are being used by someone else after their death, act quickly. Banks and credit card companies must secure the deceased person’s assets, but they usually will not release control until someone with legal authority (the personal representative or executor) provides documentation from the probate court. Your goal is both to stop further unauthorized use and to obtain lawful control of the accounts so estate bills and distributions can be handled correctly under Connecticut law.

Key legal concepts to understand (Connecticut):

• Authority to manage and close accounts after death typically flows from the probate court. The court issues letters testamentary or letters of administration that give a personal representative the legal power to collect assets, pay debts, and distribute the estate.
• Power of attorney ends at death. An agent under a power of attorney cannot continue to act after the principal dies.
• If someone uses the accounts after death without authorization, their actions may be civilly wrongful and may be criminal (theft, unauthorized use, identity fraud).

Where to start (practical first steps):

1. Obtain several certified copies of the death certificate from the funeral home or the town clerk. Banks and card issuers will request them.
2. Contact the bank(s) and credit card companies immediately and tell them the account holder is deceased. Ask them to freeze or block further transactions pending probate. Ask for the bank’s fraud or estate department and get a contact name and reference number.
3. Gather paperwork: the will (if any), any statements showing the unauthorized use, account numbers, and any communications that show who has been accessing the accounts.
4. File for probate in the Connecticut probate court in the decedent’s district to be appointed personal representative (if you are the heir or nominated executor). The Connecticut Probate Courts website explains where and how to file: https://www.jud.ct.gov/probate/

Why probate matters: once the probate court issues letters testamentary or letters of administration, you have documented legal authority. Give those letters plus the death certificate to the bank and card companies. They will usually cooperate with a court-appointed personal representative and provide account information, allow you to pay valid debts, and close or transfer accounts under the court’s direction.

If someone is already using the accounts

If an unauthorized person is withdrawing money or charging on cards after death, do the following immediately:

• Report the activity to the bank and card issuers as suspected fraud and request a freeze and an internal investigation.
• File a police report for theft or identity fraud. Provide the bank statements and any proof of unauthorized transactions.
• Talk with the probate court clerk about emergency or expedited relief. Connecticut probate courts can issue orders or act quickly if estate property is at risk: https://www.jud.ct.gov/probate/
• If the account-holder’s funds are being dissipated, the probate court can sometimes issue temporary orders to restrain that person and preserve estate assets pending appointment of a personal representative.

Small estates and alternatives

Connecticut has procedures for smaller estates and for collecting certain types of accounts (payable-on-death, joint accounts, or small-value personal property) without full probate. Check the probate court website and consult the local probate clerk for small-estate procedures that could speed access to modest accounts or property: https://www.jud.ct.gov/probate/

When to consider a lawsuit

If the other person refuses to turn over funds or the bank refuses to act without prolonged delay, a court action may be necessary. After appointment as personal representative you can ask the probate court to require an accounting and return of estate property. In some cases a separate civil action to recover converted property or money might be appropriate. A police or criminal referral may run in parallel if theft occurred.

Useful Connecticut resources

• Connecticut Judicial Branch — Probate Courts: https://www.jud.ct.gov/probate/
• Connecticut Department of Banking — consumer help and complaint info: https://portal.ct.gov/dob
• Federal identity-theft recovery resource: https://www.identitytheft.gov

Documents and evidence you’ll need

• Certified copies of the death certificate (several copies).
• The decedent’s will, if one exists.
• Recent bank statements, credit card statements, and any records showing unauthorized transactions.
• Photo ID for the person seeking appointment or to deal with institutions.
• Contact information for account representatives or bank fraud contacts.

Helpful Hints

• Act fast. Stopping additional transfers or charges preserves estate value and your legal options.
• Do not let anyone use accounts after death. Tell banks the accounts are to be frozen until a personal representative is appointed.
• Keep careful records of all calls, emails, and in-person contacts with banks, credit card companies, and any person who claims authority.
• If you suspect identity theft or fraud, both file a police report and contact the financial institutions’ fraud departments.
• Check for joint-account designations and payable-on-death (POD) beneficiaries; those often pass outside probate and may change who has access.
• Consider speaking with a probate attorney if the estate is large, if people dispute authority, or if assets have been misappropriated. The probate clerk can explain court procedures but cannot give legal advice.
• If you need consumer help with a bank, the Connecticut Department of Banking handles complaints and consumer inquiries: https://portal.ct.gov/dob

How long will this take?

Timing varies. Freezing accounts can often happen within days once banks learn of the death. Probate appointment timelines depend on the local probate court’s workload, whether the estate is contested, and whether the estate qualifies for simplified procedures. Expect at least a few weeks for routine probate tasks; complex or contested matters take longer.

Next practical move

Start by getting certified death certificates and calling the bank(s) and card issuers to report the death and request a freeze. Then visit the probate court website for your district and file for appointment as personal representative if you need legal authority to collect and protect assets: https://www.jud.ct.gov/probate/