How do I get money from my mother's account if I am the beneficiary? 15 Answers as of January 12, 2012

I cannot be sure of the status of that account based solely on your question. If you are saying that you are a beneficiary of your mother's estate but that the account was in her name, you will not be able to get at the account until your rights are determined by a court. If the estate is small (less than $50,000.00) you may be able to bypass the court process with an affidavit. If you are a beneficiary of a "Payable on Death" account, you should be able to access the account by producing a death certificate and proof that you are the named beneficiary.

If the estate is being probated then the money will come to you from the executor at the close of the estate. If there is no probate, then you can use a Declaration under Probate code sections 13100 et seq. You should consult a probate attorney for assistance.

Take a death certificate to the bank.

If you are the beneficiary, it should be as simple as providing the institution with a copy of the death certificate and some information about yourself. However, if you are not listed as the beneficiary, you may have to present the the institution with (a) a small estate affidavit, or (b) letters testamentary or letters of administration (i.e., probate documents). Your institution should be able to provide you with some specific guidance on this, then you may need to seek legal advice.

If you are the named beneficiary on an account, like a pay of death account, you simply present a certified death certificate to the holder of the account, i.e. bank. If that is all that is at issue, you do not need an attorney. If you hit a snag, you may wish to consult counsel.

You will need to contact the bank or other financial institution and find out what they need. They usually have their own forms and requirements. However, they all have one thing in common you will need to provide an original death certificate for each institution.

If you are listed as the beneficiary of an account, you would take a death certificate to the bank or financial institution and see what they require for you to cash the account out.

Present a death certificate to the bank/institution.

If you are the named beneficiary, going to the financial institution with the Death Certificate and your ID should be enough.

The answer to your question depends on several factors. For example, are you named as the "pay on death" beneficiary of the account? If not, did your mother leave a Will? Are you the only beneficiary of the estate? If there is no Will, the size of her estate may affect whether you will need to open a probate to collect the account or whether you can do a simplified proceeding. I recommend you speak with a probate attorney to discuss the answers to your questions and determine your options.