When an account is owned by multiple people, such as joint tenants with rights of survivorship or a trust with multiple co-trustees, the surviving owners often, (though not always), maintain access to conduct the same types of transactions after the death of a co-owner/trustee as they were able to prior to their death.
In all other situations, the assets remain in the existing accounts until the completed Estate Settlement Claim form(s) and other required documents are received at Ameriprise corporate offices in good order. Prior to the receipt of all required documents, the assets cannot be accessed by the claimant(s). The completed materials, in good order, legally establish the claim on the account(s) or asset(s).