Notify Credit Reporting Agencies

You must contact each bureau separately. Equifax: mail a death certificate to P.O. Box 105139, Atlanta, GA 30348, or call 1-800-685-1111. Experian: mail to P.O. Box 4500, Allen, TX 75013, or call 1-888-397-3742. TransUnion: mail to P.O. Box 2000, Chester, PA 19016, or call 1-800-916-8800. Each bureau requires a certified death certificate and your identification as executor. Processing takes 2-4 weeks per bureau.

A deceased alert (also called a death notation) flags the credit file so that lenders are warned not to extend new credit in that person's name. It effectively freezes the credit file against new applications. It does not remove existing accounts or debts—those remain on the report and must be resolved through the estate. The alert is permanent once applied and is the single most effective step for preventing posthumous identity theft.

After placing the deceased alert, request a copy of the deceased's credit report from each bureau (you can do this as executor). Review it for any accounts or inquiries you do not recognize, especially those opened near or after the date of death. Check again 3 and 6 months later, as fraudulent activity can appear with a delay. If you find suspicious activity, file a report with the FTC at identitytheft.gov and contact the fraud department of the affected creditor.

Notify the credit bureaus as soon as you have a certified death certificate and proof of executor authority, ideally within the first 2-4 weeks after death. Identity thieves often target recent deaths using obituary information to apply for credit. The sooner the deceased alert is placed, the smaller the window of vulnerability. If the obituary includes the deceased's full name, date of birth, or address, treat this step as especially urgent.