How can one close an estate bank account and obtain the required closing statement? — FL

Detailed Answer — Closing an Estate Bank Account and Getting the Required Closing Statement under Florida Law

Closing a deceased person’s bank account in Florida and getting the required closing statement usually involves two related tracks: (A) determining whether probate is needed at all and (B) if probate is required, completing the personal representative’s duties and obtaining the court paperwork (the “closing statement” or final accounting) that proves the estate may be closed. The exact steps depend on how the account is titled and the size of the estate.

1) Step one — Do you need probate at all?

Check the account’s ownership and beneficiary designations. Many accounts transfer outside probate if they are:

• Payable-on-death (POD) or transfer-on-death (TOD) with a named beneficiary;
• Joint accounts with right of survivorship;
• Held in a trust with a named successor trustee.

If one of the above applies, the bank normally releases funds to the surviving owner or the named beneficiary after you present a certified death certificate and the beneficiary’s ID. No court account or probate closing is required in that case.

2) Step two — If the funds are property of the estate (probate required)

If the account is owned solely by the decedent with no valid beneficiary designation, the bank will usually require proof of authority to act for the estate — typically certified Letters of Administration or Letters Testamentary issued by a Florida probate court. To get that authority you (or someone) must open probate (formal administration) or, if eligible, use summary administration under Florida law. Florida statutes governing personal representatives and summary administration are in Chapter 733 and Chapter 735 of the Florida Statutes, respectively:
Fla. Stat. Ch. 733 (Personal Representatives) and
Fla. Stat. Ch. 735 (Summary Administration).

3) Formal administration: how the estate account is closed

1. File a petition for administration with the county probate court and get appointed as personal representative (the court issues certified Letters of Administration or Letters Testamentary). The court rules and procedures are in Chapter 733 linked above.
2. Open an estate bank account in the name of the estate using the Letters and the bank’s requirements. Deposit estate funds there — do not commingle personal funds.
3. Gather and pay valid debts and expenses of administration (creditors’ claims, funeral costs, taxes, administration expenses). Follow the notice and claims rules set out in Chapter 733.
4. Prepare an account of administration (final accounting) showing all receipts, disbursements, creditor payments, fees, taxes, and proposed distributions to beneficiaries or heirs. The personal representative must account to the court and to interested persons for assets they handled; the accounting is the document commonly referred to as the estate’s “closing statement.” See the duties and accounting requirements in Chapter 733.
5. File the final accounting and a petition for discharge / final distribution with the probate court. The court reviews the accounting, may schedule a hearing, and then typically enters an order approving the accounting and authorizing distribution and discharge of the personal representative.
6. Use the court order and certified copies of the Letters (or the court-approved closing documents) to instruct the bank to disburse remaining funds to beneficiaries or to close the estate account.

4) Summary administration (shorter route when eligible)

When the estate qualifies for summary administration, the process is simpler: file for summary administration and, if the court grants it, you will receive a final judgment that authorizes distribution of estate assets without the full formal accounting process. Summary administration is commonly available where the value of the estate subject to administration is small (statutory thresholds apply) or the decedent has been dead for more than two years. See Fla. Stat. Ch. 735 for details and eligibility rules.

5) What banks typically require to close an estate account

• Certified copy of the death certificate;
• Certified copy of Letters of Administration / Letters Testamentary or the final judgment of summary administration;
• Photo ID for the person presenting the documents;
• Completed bank forms (inventories or claim forms the bank may require);
• Sometimes a court order expressly authorizing distribution where there is a dispute or an unusual situation.

6) What the “required closing statement” usually means

For formal administration the legally required closing paperwork is the personal representative’s final accounting filed with the probate court and the court’s order approving distribution and discharging the personal representative. For summary administration the comparable document is the court’s final judgment of summary administration or other court order authorizing distribution. These court documents are what banks and third parties rely on as proof the estate may be closed.

7) Practical tips on timing and documentation

Expect administration to take several months in many cases (to allow notice to creditors and resolve claims). Summary administration is typically faster, but timelines vary by county and complexity. Keep careful records of every deposit and payment in the estate account — those records form the basis of the final accounting the court requires.

Sources & further reading: Florida Probate statutes and rules (see Chapters on personal representatives and summary administration):
Fla. Stat. Ch. 733,
Fla. Stat. Ch. 735.

This information explains typical Florida probate steps and points you to the relevant statutory chapters. It summarizes the common path for closing a decedent’s bank account and obtaining the court documents that serve as the estate’s closing statement.

Disclaimer: This is general information only and not legal advice. Laws change and facts matter. Consult a licensed Florida probate attorney or your county clerk’s probate division for advice tailored to your situation.

Helpful Hints

• Before filing probate, contact the bank with the death certificate and account paperwork — banks can often tell you whether the account has a beneficiary designation or survivorship rights.
• Get several certified copies of the death certificate from the funeral home or vital records office — banks, courts, and government agencies commonly require certified copies.
• If you think no probate is necessary, ask the bank what documentary proof it needs to release funds (POD forms, beneficiary ID, etc.).
• If probate is required, contact the county clerk’s probate division or review the Florida Probate Rules to learn local filing requirements and forms. The clerk can tell you how to obtain Letters and how to file a final accounting.
• Keep detailed, dated records (receipts, canceled checks, invoices) for all estate receipts and disbursements — those support the final accounting and protect the personal representative from later claims.
• Ask the bank whether it will provide a bank-issued “closing letter” after disbursing funds; banks sometimes issue a paid-out letter but usually rely on court orders when probate was required.
• Consider hiring a probate attorney when the estate has creditors, disputes, real property, or when you want help preparing the final accounting and getting a court discharge.
• If you anticipate taxes, check federal and Florida filing requirements (estate tax is not currently imposed by Florida, but federal estate or income tax filings may be required).