How to close a deceased person's Fidelity account
Fidelity handles closing a deceased person's account through an online form, or by phone. The steps below are Fidelity'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 provider will tell you which documents it needs when you contact it.
Steps
- Notify Fidelity of the death online — you won't need death certificates or account numbers to start.
- Fidelity's guided 3-step inheritance process then walks you through inheriting the assets, whether you are a beneficiary or someone authorized to act on the estate's behalf.
- For an inherited IRA, call 800-544-0003 to begin; for workplace plans (401(k), 403(b), 457) call 800-835-5095; for annuities or life insurance, contact the issuing company first (Fidelity help: 800-544-4374).
- For non-retirement accounts (brokerage, cash management, trusts), Fidelity guides you through your inheritance options after the death notification.
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 Fidelity
- Fidelity's official page for deceased accounts
- Phone: 800-544-0003
Typical timeline
Fidelity does not publish a typical timeline for this process.
Notes
Fidelity publishes an Inheritance checklist and executor/trustee guidelines alongside the notification flow.
Sources
- https://www.fidelity.com/wealth-management/inheritance/overview
- https://www.fidelity.com/learning-center/life-events/loss-of-loved-one
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.