Closing accounts
Keeping a closing log
One page that saves dozens of repeat phone calls.
Closing accounts after a death means a lot of calls, forms and follow-ups, often spread over months. A simple log of every contact helps keep track of what's done, what's waiting, and what was promised.
What a log usually includes
| Column | Example |
|---|---|
| Company | Chase checking |
| Account (last 4) | …4821 |
| Date contacted | Oct 14 |
| How | Phone, branch, online form |
| Who you spoke to | Maria, bereavement team |
| Reference number | CB-20391 |
| What they need | Certified death certificate, letters testamentary |
| Status | Waiting on check to estate account |
Ways families keep it
- A notebook kept by the phone
- A spreadsheet that others in the family can see
- A page in the binder, next to the account list
Why it helps
- It avoids sending the same documents twice
- It's easy to hand off if someone else takes over
- It shows the executor's work if beneficiaries or a court ask
- It makes it clear when something has stalled and needs a follow-up
Good to know
Writing the date and the name of the person spoken to on every call is the single most useful habit. Many companies can look up a call by those two details.