How to close a deceased person's American Express account
American Express handles closing a deceased person's account through by phone. The steps below are American Express's own published process, taken from its official support pages — this page organizes them so you can see what the provider asks for; it doesn't add to them or recommend any particular action.
What you'll need
- The account number, email, or phone number on the account
Steps
- Call American Express at 1-800-266-7064 (Mon–Fri 8:00 am–10:00 pm EST; Corporate Cards 1-888-297-3947, Mon–Fri 8:00 am–8:00 pm EST). Anyone may notify Amex of a Card Member's passing.
- Be prepared to provide the date of death, executor/trustee or attorney contact information, your relationship to the Card Member, and your contact information.
- If you were appointed by a will or court order, or are handling the decedent's affairs, you can request the account be cancelled or, if eligible, apply to take over the account (the account must be eligible for transfer, not closed for more than 1 year, not 30+ days past due, and the new Basic Card Member must pass a credit review).
- If cancelling, Amex can arrange payment options — including interest-free monthly payments for up to 24 months on most Personal and Small Business accounts. The estate, not family members or third parties, is responsible for the debt.
Closing one account is only part of the job — every recurring charge still draws on a card or bank account the estate will eventually claim. HeirLoft reads the recurring charges straight out of an inbox in one pass, so you can see everything that's still billing while you work down the list.
Surface every recurring charge in one place
How to contact American Express
- American Express's official page for deceased accounts
- Phone: 1-800-266-7064
Typical timeline
American Express does not publish a typical timeline for this process.
Notes
Amex Savings (deposit) accounts have a separate deceased-account-owner FAQ.
Sources
- https://www.americanexpress.com/us/help/deceased-cardmembers.html
- https://www.americanexpress.com/us/customer-service/faq.account-management.notify-american-express-deceased-card-member.html
Last reviewed September 14, 2026 · Links verified September 14, 2026
Related guides
- Close a deceased person's account, provider by provider
- Accessing a deceased person's financial accounts
The simplest way to spare your own family this process is to keep an up-to-date list of your accounts somewhere they can find it. HeirLoft finds the recurring charges you've forgotten and keeps them in one place your heirs can actually use.