The Short Answer

In Pennsylvania, banks typically will not release a deceased person’s account records to an estate until the requester proves they have legal authority to act for the estate. In practice, that usually means providing a certified death certificate plus proof of appointment as the personal representative (often via “letters”/a short certificate), along with identification and account details.

What Pennsylvania Law Says

Once a personal representative is properly appointed, they generally have authority to collect, manage, and marshal estate assets—which includes obtaining financial information needed to administer the estate (like signature cards, statements, and tax forms). Financial institutions also have compliance and privacy obligations, so they typically require formal proof of authority before releasing records.

If the person seeking records is a foreign fiduciary (appointed outside Pennsylvania) and there is no Pennsylvania administration, Pennsylvania law specifically addresses what a financial institution may require before honoring that fiduciary’s authority.

The Statute

The primary law governing this issue is 20 Pa.C.S. § 4102.

This statute establishes that, when there is no Pennsylvania administration, a foreign fiduciary can exercise powers over money held at a Pennsylvania financial institution after submitting a certificate of appointment and (in the bank-account context) an affidavit addressing Pennsylvania debts and taxes.

Separately, Pennsylvania law also shows the common “baseline” documentation approach custodians use when disclosing a deceased person’s assets to a personal representative—namely a written request, a certified death certificate, and certified letters. See 20 Pa.C.S. § 3908 (digital assets), which reflects the same core proof-of-authority concept many institutions apply to financial records.

Why You Should Speak with an Attorney

Even when everyone agrees the estate is entitled to the information, banks often have internal review requirements and will reject requests that don’t match their compliance checklist. Legal outcomes and turnaround times often depend on:

• Authority documentation: Whether the requester can provide properly issued letters/short certificates (and whether the bank insists on “fresh” short certificates) and whether the request is coming from an in-state or out-of-state fiduciary.
• Scope of records requested: Signature cards, historical statements, and tax forms (e.g., 1099s) may be handled by different departments and may require additional verification or a narrower authorization.
• Account ownership and beneficiary designations: Joint accounts, POD/TOD designations, and trust accounts can change who is entitled to records and what the bank can release without additional legal review.

In an estate administration like the one you described—requesting signature cards, statements, and tax forms for the decedent’s prior accounts—having counsel involved can prevent avoidable delays, ensure the request is framed correctly, and address pushback if the institution’s “final review” stalls or the bank demands documents that aren’t legally necessary.

For more background, you may find these helpful: accessing a deceased person’s bank account with only a death certificate and when letters testamentary are required in Pennsylvania.

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Disclaimer: This article provides general information under Pennsylvania law and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws change frequently. For legal advice specific to your situation, please consult with a licensed attorney.