[WSBAPT] Bank of America Requires Apostille for Foreign Death Certificate

[Doris Eslinger]

My client’s spouse passed away and the only asset in the deceased spouse’s name is a Bank of America account.  My client presented the Letter of Administration, and also provided a certified death certificate issued by the Hong Kong government when the bank officer requested it.   According to my client, the case manager located in AZ requires WA SOS’s apostille.  I don’t know how one can get the SOS to provide an apostille of a foreign document.  I suspect the bank may be asking for an authentication from the foreign government which probably means an authentication issued by the Chinese embassy in San Francisco.  I recently had to deal with the Chinese embassy in SF on another matter which was tremendously difficult so I’m trying to avoid it.  I am going to do some research to see if BOA must accept the Letters of Administration and release the funds even if we are not providing them an authentication of the death certificate (after all, the death certificate is a certified copy issued by the proper Hong Kong authority that even the US immigration accepts it).  If anyone has any advice, I would appreciate it. Thank you!

Regards,

Doris Eslinger
Attorney at Law
Eslinger Law Office, PLLC
2200 112th Ave NE | Suite 200 | Bellevue, WA 98004 | Phone: (425) 451-3237 |

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