What happens to a bank account when someone dies?

If there’s no planning at all: Without a beneficiary, will, or trust, the probate court appoints an administrator to handle everything. This person distributes assets according to your state’s intestacy laws — not the deceased person’s wishes. The process typically takes six months to over a year and can cost $1,500 to $7,000 or more in court and attorney fees.If there’s a trust with a trustee: A revocable living trust bypasses probate entirely. The trustee (the person managing the trust’s assets) can distr ...