How to Notify E*TRADE of a Death
Online tool. E*TRADE (now part of Morgan Stanley) is notified online; a dedicated Beneficiary Services professional is then assigned to the case and will call you.
E*TRADE — contact info
- Estate / bereavement phone
- 888-402-0653
- Hours
- Mon–Fri 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM ET
What E*TRADE requires
Decedent's full name, DOB, and SSN or account number
Needed to identify and secure the account.
Legible copy or photo of the death certificate
Required before the rest of the inheritance process can proceed.
Individual notification per beneficiary
Each beneficiary or inheritor must contact E*TRADE individually — one notification doesn't cover multiple beneficiaries.
What to expect
Note: Once the death certificate is reviewed, the account is restricted: open orders are canceled and bill payments/checking are stopped.
Processing time: After all required documents are submitted, a new E*TRADE account is opened for the beneficiary and assets are transferred.
A letter you can send E*TRADE today
Fill these in and the letter below becomes yours — dated today, ready to print and send. Nothing is saved and you don't need an account.
Your letter asks what the institution requires. It won't claim you're authorised to act for the estate — only a court appointment gives you that, and saying so without one can hold up the process.
E*TRADE (Morgan Stanley) Re: Notification of Death — Account Holder Robert J. Sample Accounts Held: 1 Dear Estate Services Department, I am writing to notify you of the passing of Robert J. Sample. Robert J. Sample held the following accounts with your institution: 1. Account I, [Your Name], am writing regarding the estate of Robert J. Sample, to ask what your institution requires in order to proceed. I respectfully request the following: 1. That all accounts be flagged to reflect the account holder's passing and that activity be frozen to protect estate assets. 2. That you provide date-of-death valuations for all accounts to establish stepped-up cost basis. 3. That you provide instructions and required forms to transfer or close each account in accordance with your institution's procedures. Enclosed please find the required documents listed below. For reference, I can be reached at the contact information below. E*TRADE is now part of Morgan Stanley; the Beneficiary Services team handles death notifications (email etrade_estates@morganstanley.com). Each beneficiary must contact them individually. Stock plan accounts may need to go through the employer's stock plan administrator separately. Sincerely, [Your Name] [Your Address] [Your Phone] [Your Email] Enclosures: - Certified Death Certificate - Government-issued Identification
Fill in the bracketed lines under your signature before you send it, so E*TRADE can reach you.
Most estates need this same letter for eight or nine institutions, not just E*TRADE. Estate Assist finds them and drafts a letter for each.
Draft the rest of my letters →Can't find an account login? Check a password manager app like LastPass, 1Password, Bitwarden, or Dashlane — many people store their logins there. Look for a small colored icon in the browser toolbar or on the phone's home screen. You'll need the master password to unlock it — never share that with anyone claiming to need it for notification purposes.
E*TRADE death notification FAQ
How do I notify E*TRADE of a death?
Online tool. E*TRADE (now part of Morgan Stanley) is notified online; a dedicated Beneficiary Services professional is then assigned to the case and will call you.
What documents does E*TRADE require?
Decedent's full name, DOB, and SSN or account number — Needed to identify and secure the account. Legible copy or photo of the death certificate — Required before the rest of the inheritance process can proceed. Individual notification per beneficiary — Each beneficiary or inheritor must contact E*TRADE individually — one notification doesn't cover multiple beneficiaries.
How long does the process take with E*TRADE?
After all required documents are submitted, a new E*TRADE account is opened for the beneficiary and assets are transferred.
What if my loved one had other accounts besides E*TRADE?
Every institution has its own process and required documents. Estate Assist reads the estate's documents, identifies every institution to notify, and drafts a personalized letter for each one automatically.
Other institutions
Checked against E*TRADE's official website on July 18, 2026. Requirements, contact info, and processes change — confirm current requirements with E*TRADE's official page before relying on this guide. Estate Assist provides general information, not legal advice.