Estate Services

We understand this is a stressful time. We're here to help.

Please accept our condolences on your loss. Losing someone close can be difficult, and managing their affairs can seem overwhelming. We're here to make this process as easy as possible.

First steps

1. Determine who is authorized to manage the estate.

It's important to understand your role in managing the estate. In many cases a will may dictate who is responsible for managing the affairs of the deceased. In other cases, a probate court may appoint a representative.

2. Gather required documents.

Death certificate
Small estate affidavit, letters of testamentary/administration, or similar documents. Court and probate documents vary by state and size of the estate so it may be necessary to seek legal guidance.
Will and/or trust documents, if applicable
When managing mortgage accounts, certain situations may require you to prove a familial relationship to the deceased. Documentation such as marriage or birth certificates may be required.

3. Notify us.

To notify M&T of the death of a customer, please send us:

A legible copy of the death certificate with a visible seal
A copy of the letters of testimony/administration or similar document(s) appointing an executor of the estate, if applicable

You can notify us in any one of the below ways.

M&T Bank Estate Services
PO Box 1850
Buffalo NY, 14240

How we can assist

If the sole account holder has passed away, we'll help you understand the options available to you based on your circumstances and the account type(s) that the deceased had with M&T. If there's a surviving account holder, we'll help you update the account(s) and manage any disbursements to beneficiaries.

After notifying us of the death we will:

Assign you a personal representative to help answer your questions
Help you understand the options that may be available for mortgage loans or loans for vehicles or other personal property
Provide you and/or the estate attorney with documentation needed to manage the estate, such as account balances
Update the account(s) to note those authorized to speak on behalf of the estate
Work with you to open estate accounts or disburse funds per your instructions

General FAQs

What types of documents may need to be provided?

Different documentation may be required depending on your situation. Not all documents will apply to every scenario. We know that managing an estate can be complicated. Some documents you may need are:

Death certificate

A death certificate is an official document that serves as proof of a death.

A deed is the document that transfers the title of the property from one owner to another. This usually happens at the closing of a real estate transaction but changes to the deed can be made to add an additional owner or transfer ownership to a trust.

An executed deed refers to a document that has been signed, notarized, and recorded with the county's land records.
A proposed deed is a prepared deed which proposes changes of ownership that have not been completed. It typically is prepared by a real estate attorney and describes the changes in ownership but has not yet been signed, notarized, or recorded.

Order of summary administration

In lieu of a probated will, most states allow for the submission of a petition to administer the decedent’s estate if the value of the estate does not exceed a certain amount. This process can be used for probating an estate with or without a will. If the petition is approved by the court, an order of summary administration will be given to the petitioner. This document allows the assets of the estate to be disbursed to the rightful heir(s).

The court clerk approved summary/affidavit/petition can be used by the heir(s) to show the succession of the decedent’s assets (real property and personal items).

Statement of administration

In some states, if the value of an estate does not exceed a certain amount, this document can be filed in order to gain control of the estate. On approval of the statement of administration by the court, the appointed person(s) may manage the estate without the issuance of a letter of testamentary or a letter of administration.

Probated will

A will that has been authorized and validated by the probate court. After the probate procedure is complete, the probated will becomes the legal document used by the estate administrator to complete the administration of the estate. "Probate" refers to the court proceedings by which a will is proved to be valid or invalid.

Letters of administration or testamentary

During the probate process the courts will designate a person as an administrator or executor of the estate. This person will be granted signing authority for the deceased and become responsible for managing the estate. This includes payments to creditors, distributing the assets to the beneficiaries and reporting the estate is closed to the county/government. Two kinds of letters can be issued.

Letters of administration are issued when the decedent did not leave a will. The court clerk will provide a letter or certificate with court stamps and seals to the selected person(s). Please note, it is possible for the letters to have an expiration but in general the letters of administration will stay in effect until the estate is closed.

Letters of testamentary are issued by the court when the decedent did leave a will. The court clerk will provide a letter/certificate with court stamps and seals to the selected person(s). Like letters of administration, it is possible for the letters to have an expiration but in general the letters of testamentary will stay in effect until the estate is closed.

Proof of relationship to the deceased borrower

In certain instances, we may be required to determine the relationship of the requestor to the borrower. Acceptable documentation includes birth certificates, marriage certificates, or legal adoption papers. Certain estate documentation may also identify the relationship to the borrower. For example, if a probated will states that the property is to be inherited to the borrowers child, we may be able to leverage that documentation as proof of the relationship.