When a Schwab client dies, the family notifies Schwab, and each account then moves either to named beneficiaries or through the estate. Schwab One brokerage accounts can carry a Designated Beneficiary Plan, Schwab's transfer-on-death (TOD) registration. Schwab Crypto can't: Schwab's crypto FAQ says you can't currently add a beneficiary. Schwab doesn't say whether heirs receive crypto as coins or as cash, so the estate's representative should ask before anything moves.
How to report the death to Schwab
Schwab's "Losing a loved one" page lists two channels:
- Online at notification.schwab.com. You'll need the deceased's name and Social Security number.
- By phone with Schwab Estate Services at 877-566-2284, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET.
Schwab also lists a separate number for Schwab Crypto, 866-295-0914. If the owner used Schwab Crypto, say so when you notify Estate Services so the account isn't missed. Look these numbers up on schwab.com yourself rather than calling one from an email, text or search ad.
Documents Schwab asks for
Schwab's estate documents checklist, as of November 2026, lists:
| Document | What it proves | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Certified death certificate | That the owner has died | Schwab asks for certified copies |
| Certified Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration | The executor's or administrator's authority | Must be dated within 12 months |
| Estate TIN or EIN | The estate's tax identity | Needed for the estate's account |
| State tax waiver | That state inheritance tax is cleared | Only where the state requires one |
The checklist doesn't mention a small estate affidavit. If the estate is small and no court has appointed anyone, ask Estate Services what it accepts before you apply for letters.
Beneficiaries and what happens to crypto
- Schwab One brokerage. The Designated Beneficiary Plan is a TOD registration for Schwab One accounts held individually, as joint tenants with rights of survivorship, or as community property with right of survivorship. It isn't available in Louisiana, and the plan form doesn't mention crypto.
- Schwab Crypto. Schwab's FAQ says you can't currently add a beneficiary. Section 16.1 of the Schwab Crypto account agreement says that when an owner dies, Schwab may hold the account, refuse deposits and withdrawals, and keep the assets until it knows who the successor is. Schwab doesn't state whether heirs receive the crypto itself or its cash value.
- Joint crypto accounts. Schwab Crypto offers joint accounts. What happens when one holder dies isn't stated on the pages we reviewed.
Schwab Crypto is offered by Charles Schwab Premier Bank, SSB, not by the brokerage, and is unavailable in New York, Louisiana and US territories. For other platforms, see which crypto apps let you name a beneficiary. For crypto held outside Schwab, see what happens to crypto when someone dies.
How long it takes
Schwab says it verifies a death certificate in about five business days and that most transfers finish in a few weeks. It doesn't publish a separate timeline for Schwab Crypto. Because the agreement lets Schwab hold crypto until it knows the successor, getting letters from the court may be the slowest step.
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. Schwab asks for certified copies, and other institutions will too.
- Get letters from the probate court. Schwab wants certified letters dated within 12 months, so check the date before you send them. Ask Schwab first if you hope to use a small estate affidavit.
- Notify Schwab online or through Estate Services, and list every account: brokerage, IRA and Schwab Crypto.
- Keep a log of every call, case number, document sent and date.
- Record values for taxes. Ask Schwab for each asset's value on the date of death before anything is sold. See is inherited crypto taxable?
If Schwab is one of several accounts, see how to find crypto after someone dies and how to claim a deceased person's exchange account. For another brokerage with crypto, compare Robinhood after a death. Don't pay anyone who offers to "recover" the 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 Schwab: make this easier for your family
Add a Designated Beneficiary Plan to your Schwab One account and name beneficiaries on any IRA. Schwab Crypto can't have a beneficiary for now, so your will, or state law if there is no will, decides where it goes, and your executor will need court letters. Write down which Schwab 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 add a beneficiary to Schwab Crypto?
No, not currently. As of November 2026, Schwab's crypto FAQ says you can't add a beneficiary to a Schwab Crypto account.
What is Schwab's Designated Beneficiary Plan?
It is Schwab's transfer-on-death registration for Schwab One brokerage accounts held individually, jointly with survivorship, or as community property with survivorship. It isn't available in Louisiana and doesn't mention crypto.
How do I notify Schwab of a death?
Use notification.schwab.com with the deceased's name and Social Security number, or call Schwab Estate Services at 877-566-2284, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET.
Can heirs withdraw crypto from a deceased person's Schwab Crypto account?
Not until Schwab knows who the successor is. Its crypto agreement says Schwab may hold the account and refuse deposits and withdrawals after an owner dies. Whether heirs get coins or cash isn't stated.
How long does Schwab take after a death?
Schwab says it verifies a death certificate in about five business days and most transfers finish in a few weeks. It doesn't give a separate timeline for crypto.