Transferring a Brokerage Account After a Death | Honorly
FINANCIAL ACCOUNTS

How to Transfer a Brokerage Account After a Death

Updated September 2026

Investment accounts follow their own rules. What happens to a brokerage account depends on how it was titled and whether a transfer-on-death beneficiary was named. This guide covers who can act, what the brokerage will ask for, and how the account is retitled or liquidated.

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QUICK ANSWER

To handle a brokerage account, you'll notify the firm, provide a certified death certificate, and show authority to act. Accounts with a transfer-on-death beneficiary or a surviving joint owner usually pass outside probate; solely owned accounts without a beneficiary generally become part of the estate. Brokerages often require a medallion signature guarantee to move assets.

AT A GLANCE
Who can handle it Executor, administrator, surviving joint owner, or transfer-on-death beneficiary
Documents you may need Certified death certificate, photo ID, court letters, recent account statements, and often a medallion signature guarantee
Does it require probate? Not always; transfer-on-death and joint accounts usually pass outside probate
What happens to the assets? Retitled to the beneficiary or estate, or liquidated and the proceeds distributed
WHAT'S INVOLVED

How do you handle a brokerage account after someone dies?

  1. 01
    Identify the accounts and how they're titled
    Determine whether each account was individual, joint, transfer-on-death, or held in a trust. Gather recent statements so you know the holdings and account numbers.
  2. 02
    Contact the brokerage
    Notify the firm and ask for its estate or inheritance department. Ask exactly which forms and documents they require and whether a medallion signature guarantee is needed.
  3. 03
    Gather the required documents
    Firms typically ask for a certified death certificate, photo ID, and court letters if you're acting for the estate. A medallion signature guarantee (from a bank or credit union) is often required to move securities.
  4. 04
    Decide whether to transfer or liquidate
    Assets can often be transferred in kind to the beneficiary's or estate's account, or sold and the proceeds distributed. Because this can carry tax consequences, coordinate with the family's CPA or financial advisor before selling.
  5. 05
    Complete the transfer or closure
    Submit the forms, retitle or move the assets, and close the account once it's empty.
  6. 06
    Keep a record
    Save the final statements and confirmations with the estate documentation.
BY ACCOUNT TYPE

Which type of account are you dealing with?

Account typeWhat typically happens
Individual accountMay require probate and court authority before assets can be moved
Joint accountGenerally passes to the surviving owner
Transfer-on-death accountGenerally passes directly to the named beneficiary
Trust-titled accountHandled by the successor trustee per the trust and firm requirements
FINDING ACCOUNTS

What if you don't know about every account?

Old statements, tax forms, and a 1099 showing dividends are the fastest way to find investment accounts. Schedule B of a tax return lists institutions that paid interest or dividends.

HOW HONORLY HELPS

How does Honorly help?

Honorly contacts the brokerage, requests the right forms, helps assemble the death certificate and court letters, arranges the medallion signature guarantee, and follows the transfer through to completion, coordinating with your CPA or financial advisor on anything that affects taxes.

You stay in control of the decisions. We handle the calls, forms, and follow-ups.

COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently asked questions about brokerage accounts

What is a medallion signature guarantee and why do I need one?

It's a special stamp from a bank or credit union that verifies your signature when transferring securities. Most brokerages require it before they'll move investments out of a deceased person's account. It is not the same as a notarization.

Do brokerage accounts go through probate?

Accounts with a transfer-on-death beneficiary or a surviving joint owner usually pass outside probate. A solely owned account with no beneficiary generally becomes part of the estate.

Should we sell the investments right away?

Not necessarily. Selling can have tax consequences, and inherited investments may receive a step-up in cost basis. Talk to a CPA or financial advisor before liquidating.

About Honorly

Let us handle it.

Honorly is an estate settlement service that handles the administrative, financial, and legal tasks that follow a loved one's passing, so families aren't left to figure everything out alone.

We handle the calls, paperwork, and follow-ups that come after a loss, so your family can focus on each other.

Talk to our team