Frequently Asked Questions for the process stages through the banking steps that follow the loss of a loved one.

• What should I do to request an advance of funds for funeral expenses?

  You can request an advance from the Bank to cover funeral expenses.

  Requirements to request processing:

  • Death Certificate (original or copy).
  • Funeral Expenses Invoice.

  The Bank will issue an official check payable to the funeral home for the amount billed or up to the maximum permitted by law ($15,000) of the funds deposited at Banco Popular and any heir or representative of the succession can collect the check; it is not a refund.

• How do I obtain a Certification of Banking Relationships?

  This certification contains information on the deceased’s banking and/or financial relationships with Banco Popular.

  To request it, in addition to the Death Certificate and a Copy of the Requestor’s Identification, you must complete the Request for Certification of Banking Relationships of Deceased Customers Form (BRA-1031A) and provide one of the following documents:

  • Birth Certificate, if you are a descendant (child).
  • The Will and its Certificate of Validity from the Registry of Powers and Wills (Registro de Poderes y Testamentos), in which you appear as an heir. The certification must be issued after the death.
  • Resolution of Declaration of Heirs, in which you appear as an heir.
  • Letters Testamentary or Affidavit accepting the role, if you are the designated executor.
  • Information Request Letter, if you are a lawyer representing the estate.
• What should I do to obtain a Liquidation of Funds?

  At the time of liquidating the balance deposited in the deceased’s accounts, the Bank will issue one (1) official check in favor of all heirs of the estate and joint owners recorded in the accounts. The Bank does not make partial liquidations, inheritance divisions, or allocate the shares of the members of the estate and/or surviving joint owners. Once the Bank liquidates the deposited balance, it will proceed to close the accounts.

  Requirements to request the liquidation of funds:

  • Requirements for Advancement or Disbursement of Deceased Customer Funds Form (BRA-1032A).
  • Copy of the Death Certificate.
  • The Will and its Certificate of Validity from the Registry of Powers and Wills (Registro de Poderes y Testamentos). If there is no Will, a Declaration of Heirs must be provided.
  • Letters Testamentary or an Affidavit accepting the role, if you are the designated executor.
  • Release of Inheritance if funds exceed $15,000 at the date of death. The accounts and/or assets subject to liquidation must be identified in the Release of Inheritance.

  If an heir cannot be present on the day of disbursement, they may grant a Power of Attorney or an Affidavit authorizing another member of the estate or a third party to receive and endorse the liquidation check. Any Power of Attorney or Affidavit granted outside of Puerto Rico must be accompanied by the County Clerk Certificate or the corresponding Apostille. These documents must be provided along with the other documents required above.

  If a deceased customer received government benefit payments after the date of death, those funds will be returned to the issuing agency prior to the liquidation of funds.

• How to start one of these procedures?

  To request any of the above-mentioned procedures, you must follow the instructions for each process by completing the Request for Certification of Banking Relationships of Deceased Customers (BRA-1031A) and/or the Requirements for Advancement or Disbursement of Deceased Customer Funds (BRA-1032A). Submit all the required documents to any Banco Popular de Puerto Rico branch or send them via postal mail to the following address:

  Banco Popular de Puerto Rico
  Estate Processing (696)
  PO Box 362708
  San Juan, PR 00936-2708

• What should I do to obtain a liquidation of funds if there is no Last Will and Testament or a Resolution of Declaration of Heirs and/or Notarial Act of Declaration of Heirs and the amount to be disbursed does not exceed $2,000?

  Banco Popular offers a more accessible alternative only for cases where:

  • The total funds of all accounts of the deceased client do not exceed $2,000,
  • The deceased customer did not leave a Last Will and Testament, and
  • A Resolution of Declaration of Heirs and/or Notarial Act of Declaration of Heirs could not be obtained.

  This is the Affidavit for Liquidation of Bank Accounts (BRA-028). This affidavit will be used in place of a Resolution of Declaration of Heirs and/or Notarial Act of Declaration of Heirs exclusively in cases where the total amount to be disbursed does not exceed $2,000, the deceased customer did not leave a Last Will and Testament, and the succession has not obtained the Resolution of Declaration of Heirs and/or Notarial Act of Declaration of Heirs and has not even initiated the legal process to obtain it. It is important that when the Affidavit for Liquidation of Bank Accounts (BRA-028) is presented, it is accompanied by the following documents:

  • A Negative Certification of Will from the Registry of Powers and Wills (Registro de Poderes y Testamentos), which confirms that the deceased did not have a Last Will and Testament.
  • If the Affidavit for Liquidation of Bank Accounts (BRA-028) is notarized outside of Puerto Rico, it must include the County Clerk Certificate or Apostille, if applicable. 
  • If the total aggregate balances in the deceased's accounts exceeded $15,000 at the date of death, a Lien Cancellation Certificate (Heir Release issued by the Department of Treasury of Puerto Rico / Departamento de Hacienda de Puerto Rico) with Annex A: Details of Other Assets is required.

  This allows the funds of the deceased customer to be liquidated without incurring significant expenses.

• What are the basic documents I need to initiate the procedures with Banco Popular?
  • Death Certificate: It provides necessary information to verify the identity and legal residence of the deceased, as well as to confirm the official date of death. For more information, visit https://www.gobiernodigital.pr.gov/transaction-type/4808 (website only available in Spanish).
  • Will: If a will exists, you must request a Certificate of Validity at the Registry of Powers and Wills (Registro de Poderes y Testamentos) to prove that the will has not been revoked and is the last will that appears as recorded. For more information, go to https://poderjudicial.pr/servicios-a-la-comunidad/certificaciones-del-registro-de-testamentos/ (website only available in Spanish).
  • Declaration of Heirs: In the absence of a will, it will be necessary to process a declaration of heirs in Court or before a notary public. At the end of the process, and according to the evidence provided, the Court and/or the notary public will issue the Declaration of Heirs.
• How do I request deposit account statements?

  You can obtain a copy of the monthly statements on any account belonging to the deceased by completing the Request for Certification of Banking Relationships of Deceased Customers (BRA-1031A) and providing one of the You can obtain a copy of the monthly statements on any account belonging to the deceased by completing the Request for Certification of Banking Relationships of Deceased Customers (BRA-1031A) and providing one of the documents required in the previous procedure (Financial Relationship Certification). Obtaining a copy of monthly statements has a cost of $10 per statement. required in the previous procedure (Financial Relationship Certification). Obtaining a copy of monthly statements has a cost of $10 per statement.

• What should I do to obtain an Advance on Available Funds?

  The Puerto Rico Internal Revenue Code allows the estate to request an advance of the funds deposited by the deceased in a financial institution, up to a maximum of $15,000.00 or 25% of the total amount, whichever is greater. The estate can request this partial withdrawal even if they have not received the Release of Inheritance. To pay this advance, the Bank will issue one (1) official check in favor of all heirs of the estate and the joint owners registered in the accounts.

  Requirements to request the Advance on Available Funds:

  • Requirements for Advancement or Disbursement of Deceased Customer Funds Form (BRA-1032A).
  • Copy of the Death Certificate.
  • The Will and its Certificate of Validity from the Registry of Powers and Wills (Registro de Poderes y Testamentos). If there is no Will, a Declaration of Heirs must be provided.
  • Letters Testamentary or Affidavit accepting the role, if you are the designated executor.

  If an heir cannot be present on the day of disbursement, they may grant a Power of Attorney or an Affidavit authorizing another member of the estate or a third party to receive and endorse the liquidation check. Any Power of Attorney or Affidavit granted outside of Puerto Rico must be accompanied by the County Clerk Certificate or the corresponding Apostille. These documents must be provided along with the other documents required above.

  If you have already requested a disbursement for funeral expenses or any withdrawals were made on the accounts after the death, that sum will be subtracted from the advance amount.

• What are the requirements to initiate a Liquidation of Funds process with documents issued in the United States?
  • Requirements for Advancement or Disbursement of Deceased Customer Funds Form (BRA-1032A).
  • Copy of Last Will and Letters Testamentary issued by the Surrogate/Probate Court.
  • If there is no Last Will, you need to provide a copy of the Letters of Administration issued by the Surrogate/Probate Court, designating an administrator or representative of the estate.
  • In all cases where the funds in the accounts exceed $15,000 at the date of death, a Release of Inheritance must also be provided. The accounts and/or assets subject to liquidation must be identified in the Release of Inheritance.
• How to cancel credit cards following the death of a cardholder?

  To cancel a credit card due to the death of the applicant and/or co-applicant, you must notify the death and include the Death Certificate with the notification.

  Once the notification is received, the associated credit card accounts will be canceled to prevent unauthorized transactions or cash advances. The deceased’s cards, as well as those of any surviving applicant and/or co-applicant and authorized users, will be deactivated. Additionally, any authorized payments or scheduled recurring charges on those cards will not be processed.

  In case you need information about the account, it is necessary to obtain a Certification of Banking Relationships of Deceased Customers Form (BRA-1031A) to know the credit card balances, request statements, or other information related to the deceased's financial relationship with Banco Popular. The statement request process applies to anyone who is not an applicant and/or co-applicant of the credit card.

  You can request the Certification of Banking Relationships of Deceased Customers directly at your nearest branch by filling out the Request for Certification of Banking Relationships of Deceased Customers Form (BRA-1031A) accompanied by one of the following documents:

  • A Will and its Certificate of Validity from the Registry of Powers and Wills (Registro de Poderes y Testamentos), where you are named as heir; or a Resolution of Declaration of Heirs. The certification must be dated after the date of the death.
  • Letters Testamentary or an Affidavit accepting the role, if you are the designated executor.
  • Information Request Letter, if you are a lawyer representing the estate.

  Once you obtain the certification, you may request the credit card statements by visiting your preferred branch or calling the Card Product Customer Service at (787) 758-0505. It is important that the same person who requested the Certification of Banking Relationships of Deceased Customers (BRA-1031A) be the one to contact the service center or branch.

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