How to Notify American Express After a Death in the UK

How to Notify American Express After a Death in the UK

If the person who died had an American Express card, you can usually start by completing Amex's bereavement form and sending a copy of the death certificate. Once Amex has been told, the main card account and any supplementary cards linked to it are normally closed.

Dealing with credit cards after a death can feel small compared with everything else, but it matters. Leaving accounts open can make it harder to stop payments, understand what is owed, and keep track of the estate properly.

The short answer

American Express UK says it can be notified of a death online, by email or by post. For a deceased main cardmember, it asks for a completed bereavement notification form and a death certificate.

If the person who died was only a supplementary cardmember, the main cardmember can usually call Amex to let them know instead.

What to gather before you contact American Express

Try to collect these first:

• the deceased person's full name
• their American Express account details if you have them
• a copy of the death certificate
• your contact details
• confirmation of your role, if you are the executor, administrator or next of kin dealing with the account

Do not panic if you cannot immediately find every piece of paperwork. It is still usually better to make contact and explain what you have.

How to notify American Express UK

American Express provides three main routes.

1. Online form

This is usually the simplest option if you have the documents ready. Amex says you can complete its online bereavement form and upload files in common formats such as PDF, JPEG or PNG.

2. Email

Amex also publishes a bereavement support email address for UK cases. This can be helpful if you want to send the form and death certificate together and keep a written record of what you sent.

3. Post

If you would rather send paper copies, Amex provides a postal address for its bereavement support team in Brighton.

What happens after you tell Amex

According to American Express UK, a team member should usually contact you by email or letter within two weeks.

That does not necessarily mean the whole matter is finished within two weeks. It usually means the bereavement team has acknowledged the report and will tell you whether they need anything else.

In practice, you may still need to deal with:

• any outstanding balance on the account
• refunds due back to the card
• regular card payments that need cancelling or replacing
• evidence of authority if Amex needs to speak to the executor or administrator about estate matters

What about supplementary cardholders?

This point is easy to miss. Amex says that when a main cardmember dies, the main card and all associated supplementary cards are closed as part of the bereavement process.

That means anyone who was using a supplementary card should expect it to stop working. If that person later wants an American Express card in their own name, they would usually need to apply separately.

What if there is money owed on the card?

Do not assume you personally have to pay a deceased person's American Express balance out of your own pocket. In many cases, debts are dealt with as part of the estate administration process.

A sensible approach is to:

1. notify American Express promptly
2. ask for a final statement or confirmation of the balance
3. keep the debt on the estate's list of assets and liabilities
4. avoid distributing estate money too early if debts are still being confirmed

If the estate is complex, insolvent, or there is disagreement about who should deal with the account, legal advice may be worth getting before money is paid out.

A simple checklist

Task	What to do
Report the death	Use the online form, email or post
Send evidence	Include the death certificate and any required form
Track the account	Make a note of balances, refunds and card-linked payments
Protect the estate	Keep records before settling or distributing funds
Follow up	Chase Amex if you have heard nothing after the stated timeframe

Practical tips that make this easier

Keep a paper trail

Save copies of emails, letters and attachments. If you send documents by post, note the date and what you sent.

Check for recurring payments

Credit cards are often linked to streaming services, travel accounts, software subscriptions and online shopping profiles. Once the account is closed, some services may fail silently and then chase for payment later.

Do not cancel everything blindly

If the deceased was the main payer for a household cost, check whether another family member still needs that service before closing or replacing it.

Keep other estate paperwork together

Bereavement admin becomes harder when every account is handled in isolation. Even a simple tracker with the provider name, date notified, reference number and next action can save time. If you want one place to organise those tasks and documents, GetPassage can help you keep the process in order without adding more paperwork.

When to get extra help

You may want support if:

• the estate may not have enough money to cover debts
• you are unsure whether probate is needed
• there are several cardholders, accounts or linked products involved
• Amex asks for documents you do not yet have
• family members disagree about who should deal with the account

Citizens Advice or a probate professional may be useful if the wider estate is complicated.

Final thought

Notifying American Express is usually a straightforward admin step, but it sits inside a much bigger emotional and practical load. Get the death reported, keep records, and deal with the account as part of the estate rather than as a separate panic task.

One steady step is enough. Then move on to the next one.