How to Notify Merrill Lynch of a Death
Phone (Merrill Life Services). Call Merrill Life Services to notify them of the death and begin working with a Transition Specialist.
Merrill Lynch — contact info
- Estate / bereavement phone
- 855-450-9015
- Hours
- Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM ET
What Merrill Lynch requires
Decedent's full legal name, SSN, and date of birth
Have this ready before calling.
Death certificate
Typically provided by the funeral home or a local vital records office.
Small Estate Affidavit
If used to disperse an account when formal probate isn't required — typically provided by a legal advisor.
Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration
Issued by the court when formal probate is required.
Affidavit of Domicile
Verifies the home address of the person who died.
Trustee Certification Form
If the account is held in a trust.
What to expect
Individual Account requirements: Death Certificate & Affidavit of Domicile, probate documents (if applicable), distribution documents, tax waiver (if applicable), Transfer on Death Letter of Authorization (if applicable).
Processing time: A Transition Specialist reviews your initial documents, then connects you with a Financial Solutions Advisor to open new accounts and transfer assets.
A letter you can send Merrill Lynch 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.
Merrill Lynch (Bank of America) 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. Call Merrill Life Services — the same estate-notification line and team now handle both Merrill Lynch and Merrill Edge accounts. If the decedent also had Bank of America accounts, coordinate handling together. 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 Merrill Lynch can reach you.
Most estates need this same letter for eight or nine institutions, not just Merrill Lynch. 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.
Merrill Lynch death notification FAQ
How do I notify Merrill Lynch of a death?
Phone (Merrill Life Services). Call Merrill Life Services to notify them of the death and begin working with a Transition Specialist.
What documents does Merrill Lynch require?
Decedent's full legal name, SSN, and date of birth — Have this ready before calling. Death certificate — Typically provided by the funeral home or a local vital records office. Small Estate Affidavit — If used to disperse an account when formal probate isn't required — typically provided by a legal advisor. Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration — Issued by the court when formal probate is required. Affidavit of Domicile — Verifies the home address of the person who died. Trustee Certification Form — If the account is held in a trust.
How long does the process take with Merrill Lynch?
A Transition Specialist reviews your initial documents, then connects you with a Financial Solutions Advisor to open new accounts and transfer assets.
What if my loved one had other accounts besides Merrill Lynch?
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 Merrill Lynch's official website on July 18, 2026. Requirements, contact info, and processes change — confirm current requirements with Merrill Lynch's official page before relying on this guide. Estate Assist provides general information, not legal advice.