How To Close An E-Trade Account When Someone Dies

Service: A financial services company allowing self-directed investors to buy and sell stocks, bonds, options, mutual funds, and exchange-traded funds via electronic trading platforms or by phone.

How To Close An Account: If the account isn’t used after 18 months, it will be given an “inactive” status. After that, it will eventually be purged from the system. If you want to be more active, go to the E-Trade site and locate the "Account Closure Request" link. Follow a two-step process that includes making sure you want to delete your account. Resolve all pending transactions and verify closing your account.

You can also delete your account by phone by calling 1-800-ETRADE-1. The customer service representative will give you detailed instructions on how to close your account. After your account is closed, get the confirmation number to keep for your personal records.

A third option is to visit a local E-Trade branch to delete your account in person (you can locate the nearest one by clicking “Visit an E-Trade Branch” on their main site).

Required Information

Quite a bit, depending on how many accounts are in play. You’ll likely need all related 401k, IRA, or other account information in order to proceed. Brokers cannot close an E-Trade account for the account holder.

E-Trade official page on closing an account.

Related Article: How To Close Online Accounts