Auto-pay From a Joint Bank Account
When a spouse dies, any bank accounts that were held jointly typically need to have the deceased spouse removed. This process is fairly straightforward, but it results in new account numbers.
Before updating the account, gather a list of all auto deposits and auto debits connected to the account. Plan to notify the companies shortly after the account number changes so that there is no disruption to the automatic transactions.
When I worked with my mom to update her accounts, I wasn't aware that the account numbers would change. Once we learned that, I was able to quickly update everything that I could do online.
However, her HOA payment was more difficult. This was auto drafted through an account that changed, which my dad had set up years ago. There was no online portal, and none of the documents that we found included payment details. Fortunately we received some help from a member of the HOA board and were able to resolve everything.
This process took over a month, almost resulting in a missed payment. In hindsight, we needed to make sure we knew how to update all payments before removing my dad from the bank accounts.
To start tracking your bank accounts and bills, download your free Estate Map below.