Upon the death of an ASCAP member, his or her membership may be passed on to a spouse, loved one or anyone the member chooses. Such persons who receive a membership interest are called "successor members." Moreover, so long as the original member's copyrights continue, when a successor member dies or multiple successor members die, further successors may be appointed.

It is up to the deceased member to decide by will and other estate planning measures to whom the membership will pass; otherwise, the state law of intestacy will make that determination. Unless the deceased member decided how his or her membership should pass following the death of successor members, the successor members may also have to confront similar estate planning issues. We would urge ASCAP members and successor members to familiarize themselves with the choices available to them so that their wishes will be respected when they pass on.

Even if the deceased songwriter, lyricist or composer was not an ASCAP member at the time of his or her death, the deceased may be elected to membership after death by "posthumous application" and then have one or more successors appointed to that membership. A posthumous application to become a publisher member may also be filed on the deceased's behalf.

The applications described below are for use in appointing successor ASCAP members under the circumstances indicated.

• Once the application that applies to your circumstances has been completed, you will need to return it along with the documents requested in the application to ASCAP's Estates & Claims Department. Our address, telephone and fax numbers are on the applications. We will send you an acknowledgement to let you know that we have received your completed application and whether we have accepted it for processing or if any-thing else is needed.
  
  
• In order to best assist you, it will help us greatly if you take the time to submit a fully completed application which should include a copy of the deceased's will, trust or other estate planning documents and any other documents that may be needed to respond to the questions in the application.
  
  

Application for Successor Appointment for a Deceased Member

• Use this application if the deceased was an ASCAP writer member in order to appoint a person (or persons) to succeed that writer member in his or her membership.
  
  
• This form should also be used if the deceased was both an ASCAP writer and a publisher member.

Application for Successor Appointment to a Successor Member of a Deceased Member

• Use this application if the deceased was already a successor member to an ASCAP writer member and another successor needs (or successors need) to be appointed to membership.
  
  
• This form should also be used if the deceased was both a successor to an ASCAP writer and a publisher member.

Application for a Posthumous Election to Membership and Appointment of a Successor for a Deceased Writer

• Use (1) this application in conjunction with (2) the regular ASCAP writer application (see below) if you need to elect a successor member to a deceased individual who has yet to be elected to ASCAP membership. This procedure assumes that the deceased would have qualified for ASCAP membership during his or her lifetime. Remember you need to complete and submit both applications in this situation.
  
  
• PLEASE NOTE that the ASCAP writer application is submitted in the name of the deceased. The person making the application should sign the deceased's name as though the deceased were filling out the application, followed by the name of the person actually making the application on behalf of the deceased and a notation as to his or her relationship to the deceased (i.e., spouse, child, estate executor). Submit both the completed writer application and the posthumous election application directly to ASCAP's Estates & Claims Department. The address is ASCAP, Estates & Claims Department, One Lincoln Plaza, New York, NY 10023.
  
  
• If applying posthumously for writer membership, it may also be appropriate to consider applying for publisher membership. To obtain an application, please contact ASCAP's Estates & Claims Department (212-621-6280) or call ASCAP's Membership Department (212-621-6240). To facilitate the handling of the publisher application, please submit it to the ASCAP's Estates & Claims Department.

Application to Transfer Publisher Membership of a Deceased Owner

• Use this form if the deceased was an owner of a publisher membership, but was not an ASCAP writer member as well.
  
  
• If the deceased owner was also an ASCAP writer member, use the Application for a Successor Appointment for a Deceased Writer Member (see above)

For further information contact us here, or call 212.621.6280 and ask for the Estates and Claims Department.