[WSBAPT] Banking Information

Tue Sep 29 07:19:01 PDT 2026

Amy,

One old-school thought from someone who's spent many years doing professional guardianship work.

Years ago, when we took over cases where nobody really knew where the person banked or what assets they had, we would sometimes do the shoe-leather version of an asset search. We would prepare a simple form letter, attach copies of letters of guardianship (or other credentials in the case of a probate)  and send/delivery it to the banks and credit unions in the geographic area where the person lived or worked, asking whether they held any accounts or other assets in that person’s name.

Admittedly, this worked better in the era when banking was all local and brick-and-mortar. It obviously won’t find an account at an online-only institution halfway across the country. But it was remarkably effective at times, particularly with people who had longstanding relationships in a neighborhood.

Depending on what the institution requires, the PR may need to provide certified Letters or make the inquiry directly, but the basic process is pretty simple. Create one form letter and work through the likely banks and credit unions in the area.

I haven’t had occasion to do this in probably five years or more, so perhaps banking practices have changed, but I would not overlook it. For the relatively small amount of time involved, you might be surprised what turns up.

Chris Neil | Attorney | Neil & Neil, P.S.
5302 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98408 | Chris.Neil at NeilLaw.com
(253)475-8600 | f:(253)473-5746
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> On Sep 28, 2026, at 7:15 PM, Andrekita Silva <ak at seattle-silvalaw.com> wrote:
> 
> Law Office of F. Andrekita Silva
> ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________  
> 
> 
> September 28, 2026
>  
> Amy,
>  
> In addition to IRS returns, a person might have a bank account at the same place as one of their credit cards.
> Could you get a credit report? 
>  
> The credit report won't tell you where their bank account is, but if you see which financial institution holds their credit cards, you could check with those financial institution?
> 
> 
> Andrekita Silva
> Law Office of F. Andrekita Silva
> 1325 Fourth Avenue, Suite 940
> Seattle, Washington 98101-2509
> 206-224-8288
> ak at seattle-silvalaw.com <mailto:ak at seattle-silvalaw.com>
> 
> 
> On 2026/09/28 11:52 AM, cyfield at rockisland.com <mailto:cyfield at rockisland.com> wrote:
>> 
>> Perhaps reviewing recently filed tax returns/1099s might at least show
>> where some significant banking assets might be located. If you can’t
>> get that info from decedent’s files, I think fiduciary can request
>> that info directly from IRS. Just a thought. Good luck!
>> 
>> _Cyrus W. Field, Attorney at Law (admitted in Washington and Oregon);
>> Phone: 360-472-1223 _
>> 
>> _Mail: POB 367, Shaw Island, WA 98286_
>> 
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>> From: wsbapt-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com <mailto:wsbapt-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com>
>> <wsbapt-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com <mailto:wsbapt-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com>> On Behalf Of Amy Goertz
>> Sent: Monday, September 28, 2026 10:13 AM
>> To: WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <wsbapt at lists.wsbarppt.com <mailto:wsbapt at lists.wsbarppt.com>>
>> Subject: Re: [WSBAPT] Banking Information
>> 
>> Thanks, Diane - I haven’t gotten any replies other than yours, but I
>> probably should have waited and not posted at 4:00 on Friday afternoon
>> …
>> 
>> Amy
>> 
>> _Amy J. Goertz, J.D._
>> 
>> _Goertz & Lambrecht PLLC_
>> 
>> amyjgoertz at icloud.com <mailto:amyjgoertz at icloud.com> 
>> 
>> 1.888.926.2607 phone
>> 1.877.684.1627 fax
>> 
>> Address for correspondence:
>> 
>> 2829 S. Grand Blvd., Suite 303
>> Spokane, WA 99203 
>> 
>> Additional office locations:
>> 
>> 510 Bell Street
>> Edmonds, WA 98020
>> 
>> Goertz & Lambrecht PLLC
>> 
>> www.goertzlambrecht.com <http://www.goertzlambrecht.com/> [5 <http://www.goertzlambrecht.com/>]
>> 
>>> On Sep 27, 2026, at 1:38 PM, Diane Kiepe <diane at kiepelaw.com <mailto:diane at kiepelaw.com>>
>>> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Following.  Amy, if you get any answers behind the scenes, it'd be
>>> awesome if you could share those.
>>> 
>>> Diane Kiepe, J.D., LL.M. Taxation
>>> 
>>> Kiepe Estate and Probate, PLLC
>>> 
>>> diane at kiepelaw.com <mailto:diane at kiepelaw.com>
>>> 
>>> 200 N. Mullan Rd., Suite 203
>>> 
>>> Spokane Valley, WA  99206
>>> 
>>> 509-808-2087
>>> 
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>>> On Fri, Sep 25, 2026 at 4:11 PM Amy Goertz <amyjgoertz at icloud.com <mailto:amyjgoertz at icloud.com>>
>>> wrote:
>>> 
>>>> Hello -
>>>> 
>>>> I have two cases with a similar issue where the decedent must have
>>>> done all of their banking online and we have not yet been able to
>>>> determine where they bank or whether there are accounts. We’ve
>>>> been checking the mail for two - three months and have received no
>>>> communications from any banks.
>>>> 
>>>> I have obtained an Order on one directing Apple to provide access
>>>> and am working on a second one for the other matter directing
>>>> Microsoft to do the same.
>>>> 
>>>> If we are unable to locate banking information once we get access
>>>> the decedents’ phones or computers, how have you located bank
>>>> accounts? Do you send a form letter to the major banks? Does
>>>> anyone have a list of banks to start with?
>>>> 
>>>> Thanks in advance for any input or suggestions -
>>>> 
>>>> <mail.gif>
>>>> 
>>>> _Amy_
>>>> 
>>>> _Amy J. Goertz, J.D._
>>>> 
>>>> _Goertz & Lambrecht PLLC_
>>>> 
>>>> amyjgoertz at icloud.com <mailto:amyjgoertz at icloud.com> 
>>>> 
>>>> 1.888.926.2607 [1] phone
>>>> 1.877.684.1627 [2] fax
>>>> 
>>>> Address for correspondence:
>>>> 
>>>> 2829 S. Grand Blvd., Suite 303 [3 <https://www.google.com/maps/search/2829+S.+Grand+Blvd.,+Suite+303+Spokane,+WA+99203?entry=gmail&source=g>]
>>>> Spokane, WA 99203 [3 <https://www.google.com/maps/search/2829+S.+Grand+Blvd.,+Suite+303+Spokane,+WA+99203?entry=gmail&source=g>] 
>>>> 
>>>> Additional office locations:
>>>> 
>>>> 510 Bell Street [4 <https://www.google.com/maps/search/510+Bell+Street+Edmonds,+WA+98020?entry=gmail&source=g>]
>>>> Edmonds, WA 98020 [4 <https://www.google.com/maps/search/510+Bell+Street+Edmonds,+WA+98020?entry=gmail&source=g>]
>>>> 
>>>> Goertz & Lambrecht PLLC
>>>> 
>>>> www.goertzlambrecht.com <http://www.goertzlambrecht.com/> [5 <http://www.goertzlambrecht.com/>]
>>>> 
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>> 
>>  
>> 
>> Links:
>> ------
>> [1] tel:(888)%20926-2607
>> [2] tel:(877)%20684-1627
>> [3] https://www.google.com/maps/search/2829+S.+Grand+Blvd.,+Suite+303+Spokane,+WA+99203?entry=gmail&source=g
>> [4] https://www.google.com/maps/search/510+Bell+Street+Edmonds,+WA+98020?entry=gmail&source=g
>> [5] http://www.goertzlambrecht.com/
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