After a death, numerous entities must be notified to stop services, prevent fraud, claim benefits, and begin estate settlement. This process typically takes weeks to months and requires death certificates for most notifications.
9 steps across 2 sections
1. Steps Notification List
- Immediate (within days): Employer, Social Security (1-800-772-1213), life insurance companies, funeral home.
- Within 1-2 weeks: Banks and financial institutions, credit card companies, mortgage company, landlord, health insurance, car insurance, home insurance, VA (if veteran), pension/retirement plan admi...
- Within 1 month: Credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion — place deceased alert), DMV, voter registration, post office (forward mail), utility companies, phone/internet providers, subscriptions.
- As needed: Attorney (probate), accountant (final tax return), financial advisor, professional memberships, alumni associations, religious organizations, clubs, digital accounts.
2. Key Details
- Social Security: Must be notified promptly; may need to return benefit payments received after death
- Credit bureaus: Place a "deceased" notation to prevent identity theft
- Joint accounts: Surviving owner retains access; individual accounts are frozen pending probate
- Auto-pay: Cancel or redirect automatic payments
- Digital accounts: See topic #824 for digital account closure
Pro Tips
- Send notifications via certified mail with a copy of the death certificate
- Keep a spreadsheet tracking notifications: entity, date notified, result, fol...
- Cancel unnecessary services but maintain essential ones (home insurance, util...
- Check for unclaimed assets at unclaimed.org or missingmoney.com