When a Fidelity customer dies, the family reports the death to Fidelity, and each account is then retitled or transferred through Fidelity's inherited-assets process. Brokerage accounts can pass to transfer-on-death (TOD) beneficiaries. A Fidelity Crypto account can't: Fidelity says you can't assign beneficiaries to it, so heirs should expect it to go through the estate. Fidelity doesn't publish whether crypto in a regular Fidelity Crypto account is transferred as coins or sold, so ask before anything moves.
How to report the death to Fidelity
Fidelity has an online "report a death" form at digital.fidelity.com, linked from its checklist for families after a death. Fidelity says: "You won't need death certificates or account numbers to start." The report opens a case, and Fidelity then tells you what it needs for each account.
For questions about a Fidelity Crypto account, Fidelity's crypto help page lists 800-343-3548. Look the number up on fidelity.com yourself rather than calling one from an email, text or search ad.
Documents Fidelity asks for
Fidelity's introduction to inheriting non-retirement assets, as of November 2026, lists these:
| Document | What it proves | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Reregistration Form for Nonretirement Inherited Assets | Where the assets should go | Fidelity's own form |
| Death certificate | That the owner has died | Needed to move assets, though not to start the report |
| State tax waiver | That state inheritance tax is cleared | Only if the owner's state requires one |
| Certified Letters of Appointment | The executor's or administrator's authority | If there is a legal representative; Fidelity asks for them to be sent within 90 days of appointment |
| Small Estate Affidavit | Authority to collect a small estate without full probate | Where state law allows, with a death certificate, instead of letters |
| Estate EIN | The estate's tax identity | Needed to open an estate account |
| Signature guarantee | That the signer is who they say they are | Required above $10,000 or $100,000, depending on the case |
Fidelity says it "cannot open an estate account with a Small Estate Affidavit." If the assets need to sit in an estate account first, the executor will need letters from the court. This form covers non-retirement accounts. IRAs, including a Crypto IRA, go through Fidelity's beneficiary process instead. Ask Fidelity which documents apply to each account before you send originals.
Beneficiaries and what happens to crypto
- Brokerage accounts. Fidelity offers TOD beneficiaries on brokerage accounts. Its TOD form excludes retirement accounts, isn't available in Louisiana, and doesn't mention crypto.
- Fidelity Crypto account. Fidelity says: "You can't assign beneficiaries to your Fidelity Crypto® account." It doesn't state what happens to the crypto when the owner dies, or whether heirs receive coins or cash. Expect the estate's legal representative to handle it, and confirm with Fidelity.
- Fidelity Crypto IRA. A Crypto IRA uses the beneficiaries named on the linked brokerage IRA. Fidelity says a spouse may be able to receive the crypto into their own account if eligible. For other beneficiaries, Fidelity says the crypto "will be liquidated" and the proceeds go to the brokerage IRA for distribution. Fidelity's Crypto IRA isn't available in California or Oregon.
For a wider comparison, see which crypto apps let you name a beneficiary. For what happens to crypto held outside Fidelity, see what happens to crypto when someone dies.
How long it takes
Fidelity says transfers "may take several weeks." It doesn't publish a separate timeline for Fidelity Crypto. A court appointment or a required state tax waiver can add time before Fidelity is able to act.
Step by step for the family
- Don't sign in with the owner's password. Using the owner's login isn't a claim, and trading in the account can cause problems for the estate.
- Order several certified death certificates. Fidelity doesn't need one to start, but it does to move assets, and other institutions will ask for copies too.
- Get proof of authority. That means letters from the probate court or, where state law allows, a small estate affidavit. Fidelity won't open an estate account on an affidavit alone.
- Report the death to Fidelity through its online form, and list which accounts existed: brokerage, Fidelity Crypto, IRA or Crypto IRA.
- Keep a log of every call, case number, document sent and date.
- Record values for taxes. Ask Fidelity for each asset's value on the date of death before anything is sold. See is inherited crypto taxable?
If Fidelity is one of several accounts, see how to find crypto after someone dies and how to claim a deceased person's exchange account. Robinhood handles crypto differently; see Robinhood after a death. Be wary of anyone who offers to "recover" an account for a fee; see crypto inheritance scam red flags. This article is general information, not legal or tax advice.
If you hold crypto at Fidelity: make this easier for your family
Name TOD beneficiaries on your brokerage account and beneficiaries on any IRA, including the brokerage IRA linked to a Crypto IRA. Your regular Fidelity Crypto account can't have a beneficiary, so your will, or state law if there is no will, decides where it goes. Write down which Fidelity accounts you have and where your estate papers are kept. A digital asset inventory helps, and our guide to crypto account beneficiaries compares other platforms. PingVaults can store instructions like these encrypted and deliver them to a trusted contact after a period of inactivity.
Common questions
Can I name a beneficiary on a Fidelity Crypto account?
No. As of November 2026, Fidelity says you can't assign beneficiaries to a Fidelity Crypto account. A Crypto IRA uses the beneficiaries of its linked brokerage IRA.
Does a Fidelity TOD beneficiary get the crypto?
Not as far as Fidelity's published pages show. The brokerage TOD form doesn't mention crypto, and a Fidelity Crypto account can't have beneficiaries. Ask Fidelity how the crypto will be handled.
Do I need a death certificate to report a death to Fidelity?
Not to start. Fidelity says you won't need death certificates or account numbers to begin the online report, but it asks for a death certificate before assets move.
Can I use a small estate affidavit at Fidelity?
Yes, where state law allows, together with a death certificate. Fidelity says it cannot open an estate account with a small estate affidavit.
How long does Fidelity take to transfer inherited assets?
Fidelity says transfers may take several weeks. It doesn't publish a separate timeline for crypto.