Notifying us of someone's death

When someone important to you dies, handling the ensuing financial details can be confusing. We’ve created this overview to help make this process easier for you when an E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley client has passed away.

The basic steps



Let us know promptly

It's important to notify us of the person's death as soon as you can, so we can secure their E*TRADE account(s). You will need their first and last name, date of birth, date of death, and Social Security number or account number.


Death certificate review

You will need to provide us with a legible copy or photo of the death certificate, when it's available. Once we’ve reviewed the certificate, the rest of the inheritance process can proceed. Note that each beneficiary or inheritor must contact us individually.


Transferring assets

At the end of the process, the assets of the deceased will be transferred to you (or the beneficiary, if that person is not you). The total time needed can vary depending on several factors.

What to expect after you notify us


1

Protecting the assets

After the death certificate has been reviewed, the account(s) of the deceased will be restricted, meaning open orders are canceled and bill payments and checking are stopped.

2

We'll contact you

A dedicated E*TRADE Beneficiary Services professional will be assigned to the case, and they will call you to explain the process, including what documents you'll need to submit.

3

Receiving the assets

After all required documents are properly completed and submitted, a new E*TRADE account will be opened for the beneficiary, if they don't already have one. The assets will then be transferred into the beneficiary's account usually within seven business days.

Frequently asked questions

See all FAQs

You can send us a photocopy of the death certificate to begin your Beneficiary Services case, but we may require an original or certified copy depending on the specific circumstances.

We will need you to open an E*TRADE brokerage account if you are inheriting any investments so that legal authority is established, and the tax reporting can be made under the proper Tax Identification Number or Social Security number.

Assets are typically re-registered to the name of the estate or claimant(s) within seven business days of receiving all the necessary documentation in good order. We advise that you work closely with your Case Manager to ensure all paperwork is sufficiently completed.

Other documents may be required depending on the specific circumstances of the account(s) being settled, such as: account type, applicable state laws, beneficiary designation, method of settlement, etc. Please be aware that your specific document requirements are ultimately determined based on the details of your specific situation.

Yes. We will need estate or heirship documents that are based on the law of the country in which the  person legally resided at the time they passed away as well as tax forms such as a W8-BEN and/or a W8-BEN-E. We may also require a US court order depending on the specific details of the situation. Please work closely with your Case Manager to ensure you understand what documents are needed for your case.

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