Written and factually reviewed by Simon Dicksved
Swedish inheritance-law practice · U.S.-focused educational content
Last reviewed: August 17, 2026
Why banks ask for proof
After a death, a bank must know who is authorized to receive information, close accounts, transfer funds, or sign instructions for the estate. In Sweden, that authority is often connected to the estate inventory and the identified estate parties. When heirs live in the United States, the bank may also need identity checks, powers of attorney, certified documents, or translations.
Why one answer rarely fits every bank
Different institutions may ask for different formats because the request depends on the account, the estate parties, the transaction, the country of residence, and the bank’s internal compliance requirements. Notarizing every document in the United States is not always the solution. The better first step is to map what the bank is asking for and what legal function each document must serve.
What legal help can clarify
Swedish legal assistance may help identify who can act, what Swedish estate documents exist or must be prepared, whether a power of attorney is appropriate, and how the bank requirement fits into the wider estate distribution. U.S. tax reporting, U.S. probate authority, and American account issues remain separate questions.
A transfer request is not always the first Swedish step
Before funds can be released or distributed, the estate may need to establish the parties, register the Swedish estate inventory, resolve authority, provide bank-specific identity evidence, or complete an estate-distribution document. The sequence depends on the estate and the transaction the bank is being asked to perform.
Keep the bank’s exact written request
Save the bank’s wording, contact details, stated document format, and the transaction being discussed. Do not send full account numbers or identity documents through a general website form. A precise written request is more useful than a general statement that the bank wants probate papers.
Official U.S. sources
Continue with the authority responsible for the American question.
Internal Revenue Service: Compare Form 8938 and FBAR requirements
Useful when a U.S. adviser is assessing whether inherited Swedish accounts create a separate American reporting issue.
Financial Crimes Enforcement Network: Official FBAR information
The link does not mean an FBAR applies; ownership, authority, value, and timing must be reviewed under current U.S. rules.
These sources cover the separate U.S. document or reporting workstream. Simon provides Swedish legal services and does not provide U.S. tax, probate, or state-law advice.
Useful first-call checklist
- Bank name and branch/contact, if known
- Account or asset type, without sending full account numbers through a general form
- Registered estate inventory or status of preparation
- Known heirs and representatives
- Power of attorney requests
- Any bank letters or document lists
Start with a non-confidential summary. Do not send sensitive documents through a general website form.