What happens to a bank account in case of death?

As soon as the bank is informed of the holder's death (by relatives or by a notary), it blocks the account.

It shall no longer record any deposit or withdrawal operations. However, the bank accepts payment of the following fees (and up to €5,000):

• Funeral expenses
• Costs of care for the deceased at the time of his last illness
• Taxes payable by the deceased

If there is a power of attorney on the account, it ends.

The balance (positive or negative) of the account shall be settled at the same time as the succession.

The account is closed after the settlement of the estate.

If the account balance is less than €5,000 and that the estate does not include any real estate, an heir can close the account alone. Otherwise, a act of notoriety must be established by a notary and sent to the bank to close the account.

The account agreement predicts what happens to the bank account.

In principle, the following 2 provisions are provided for:

• The account remains open, unless the heirs of the deceased co-owner object
• The account continues to be the account of the surviving joint holders (or automatically becomes an individual bank account, if there is only one surviving joint holder).

In the case of a positive balance on the day of death, the share belonging to the deceased shall be determined when settling the estate.

In the case of a negative balance, the bank may ask the surviving holder(s) to pay the full amount of the corresponding sums.

As soon as the bank is informed of the death of a co-owner (by relatives or by a notary), it automatically blocks the undivided account.

It shall no longer record any deposit or withdrawal operations.

The balance (positive or negative) of the undivided account is settled at the same time as the whole of the succession.