When you die, your credit reports are eventually deleted. However, if a loved one has recently passed, its important to notify the credit bureaus to curtail identity theft.
After someone dies, their credit file will be marked as “deceased” and will eventually be deleted entirely. The process doesnt happen right away, however, so its a good idea to report the death of a loved one to the credit bureaus to minimize the risk of fraud.
Heres what you need to know about the process and steps you can take to accelerate it and protect your loved ones identity.
The death of a loved one is difficult enough without having to worry about their credit and identity being stolen. Unfortunately, identity thieves often take advantage of the gap between a person’s death and when creditors and credit bureaus are notified. By reporting the death to credit bureaus quickly, you can help protect your deceased relative’s identity.
When someone passes away, there are a few different ways credit bureaus may be notified
- The Social Security Administration
- The deceased person’s creditors, such as banks or credit card companies
- Family members or estate representatives contacting the credit bureaus directly
Of these, the last option is the quickest and provides the most control over the process While the Social Security Administration will eventually notify the credit bureaus, it can take over a month Notifying the bureaus directly allows you to add extra protections right away.
Why Report a Death to Credit Bureaus?
Here are some of the key reasons to notify credit bureaus of a death as soon as possible:
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Prevent identity theft. Until the credit bureaus have been notified, identity thieves can potentially open fraudulent accounts in the deceased’s name. Reporting it quickly limits this risk.
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Place a deceased alert. The credit bureaus will add a deceased alert to the credit file, warning lenders not to grant credit without verification.
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Initiate a credit freeze. You may be able to freeze the credit file, restricting access to it. This prevents anyone from fraudulently opening new accounts.
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Close joint accounts. Reporting a death can help protect joint accounts you held with the deceased. The lender can close the account or switch it to an individual account under your name.
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Start the clock on credit closure. Credit bureaus close accounts and remove deceased credit files seven years after being notified of the death. Reporting it starts this clock.
How to Report a Death to Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion
The main three credit bureaus in the United States are Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. You only need to report a death directly to one bureau and they will notify the other two. Here are the steps for each:
Reporting a Death to Equifax
To report a death to Equifax, you will need:
- A copy of the death certificate
- The deceased’s full name and Social Security number
- Their date of birth and date of death
Send this information by mail to:
Equifax Information Services LLC
P.O. Box 105139
Atlanta, GA 30348-5139
Be sure to include your name, address, contact information, and documentation showing your legal authority to report the death.
Reporting a Death to Experian
To report a death to Experian, provide:
- The deceased’s full name and Social Security number
- Their date of birth and date of death
You can upload the death certificate and report the death online or mail the documentation to:
Experian
Consumer Assistance Center
P.O. Box 4500
Allen, TX 75013
Like with Equifax, send proof of your legal authority along with your contact information.
Reporting a Death to TransUnion
To report a death to TransUnion, you’ll need to provide:
- A copy of the death certificate
- The deceased’s full name, SSN, and date of birth
- Their date of death and last known address
Mail this to:
TransUnion
P.O. Box 2000
Chester, PA 19016
Be sure to also include your name, address, contact information, and documentation that authorizes you to report the death.
What Happens When You Report a Death?
Once reported, the credit bureau will add a deceased alert to the credit file. This prevents lenders from issuing new credit until they can verify the applicant is not impersonating the deceased.
You can also request the credit bureau place a freeze on the account so no one can access the credit file or open new accounts. A freeze remains in place until lifted by an authorized person.
The credit bureau will pass along the notification to the other two bureaus so the alerts and freezes are in place everywhere. Creditors may also be informed of the death.
Over the next seven years, the deceased person’s accounts will be closed and removed from credit reports. After seven years from the date of notification, the credit file is completely deleted.
Fraud Prevention Tips After Reporting a Death
To prevent identity theft after a loved one dies, be sure to also:
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Get several copies of the death certificate. You will need these for banks, government agencies, utilities, and more.
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Publish an obituary with limited personal details. This announces the death publicly to limit fraud.
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Notify financial institutions. Call banks, credit card companies, mortgage lenders, and others.
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Update records and memberships. Cancel things like email accounts, subscriptions, medical insurance, and professional licenses.
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Review credit reports. Check the deceased’s credit reports for any suspicious activity indicating fraud. Dispute any errors with the credit bureaus.
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File final tax returns. You may need to file final federal and state tax returns on the deceased’s behalf.
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Settle the estate. Work with an attorney to finalize the person’s will and initiate the probate process.
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Update important documents. Make changes to titles on property, vehicles, investment accounts, and insurance policies.
By taking proactive steps to report the death, you can gain control over the situation early. Monitor the credit reports in the months after to ensure no fraudulent accounts have been opened. With proper notifications in place, you can prevent identity theft and protect your deceased loved one’s identity.
Request a Copy of the Deceased’s Credit Reports
In addition to notifying the credit reporting agencies of your death, its a good idea for your family to request a copy of your credit report from each of the three credit reporting agencies.
Not all creditors report to all three of the credit bureaus, so pulling all three reports will ensure that your loved ones have a full list of accounts, along with contact information for each creditor, so they can notify them of your death.
How Credit Bureaus Are Notified of Death
There are a few different ways the credit bureaus may be notified of your death.
- By lenders: When you pass away, your spouse or the executor of your estate should alert your creditors of your death. The next time the creditor updates your accounts with the credit bureaus, they will also report that you are deceased. If you have joint accounts with your spouse, its important that your spouse notify the creditor that only one account holder has died. Otherwise, your spouse may be mistakenly reported as deceased.
- By the Social Security Administration (SSA): The SSA periodically sends a list of the newly deceased to the major consumer credit reporting agencies. Typically, the funeral home will report your death to the SSA. Your spouse or estate executor can also choose to notify the SSA themselves by calling 800-772-1213 or going to the local SSA office in person.
- By your spouse or estate executor: Your spouse or your estates executor may want to notify the credit bureaus of your death themselves. This can be faster than waiting for the SSA or lenders to do it.
How Do I Notify Credit Bureaus of a Death? – Credit in 60 Seconds
FAQ
Does Social Security automatically notify credit bureaus of death?
However, once the three nationwide credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian and TransUnion — are notified someone has died, their credit reports are sealed and a death notice is placed on them. That notification can happen one of two ways — from the executor of the person’s estate or from the Social Security Administration.
Do credit card companies get notified when someone dies?
Do you have to notify credit bureaus of death?
Who notifies creditors of a death?
Once probate begins, one of the first tasks for an executor or administrator of an estate must do is to post a public notice to creditors. This is a formal notification published in a newspaper meant to let creditors know that the person has passed away and that the estate is going through probate.