Tell banks, credit bureaus and companies that someone has died.

Fill in one form and get every notification letter written for you. Print them yourself for free, or we mail them USPS Certified with tracking so you have proof they were received.

Free to use
No account needed
About 10 minutes
What you type stays in your browser

The form is filled in with an example so you can see the letters.

1The person who died

Full legal name

Date of birth Date of death

Social Security number

Credit bureaus need the SSN to find the file. If you'd rather not type it, leave it blank and fill it in on the printed letter.

Last home address

2About you

Your full name Your role

Your mailing address

Phone Email

3Credit bureaus

A "deceased" flag on the credit file stops anyone opening new credit in their name. Addresses are filled in for you.

EquifaxP.O. Box 105139, Atlanta, GA 30348-5139 ExperianP.O. Box 4500, Allen, TX 75013 TransUnionP.O. Box 2000, Chester, PA 19016 Also ask for a copy of their credit reportUseful for finding accounts you don't know about yet.

4Banks, cards and companies

Add each account. The letter changes based on the type: banks get a balance request, cards get a closure request, utilities get a cancel or transfer request.

Pricing

The letters are free. You only pay if you want us to print and mail them with proof of delivery.

Do it yourself

Every letter, written for you
Print at home and mail yourself
No account, no email required

Certified mailing

$19 per letter

Sent to print within 2 business days
USPS Certified Mail tracking number
Electronic return receipt with the signature

Most families choose this

Estate pack

$129 7 letters

All 3 credit bureaus plus 4 accounts
Certified Mail with return receipts
One page of proof for every letter, ready for the estate file

Who to notify, and in what order

You don't have to do everything in the first week. This is the order that protects the estate best.

Credit bureaus. Stops identity theft, which is common in the months after a death.
Banks and credit unions. Find out balances and which accounts have a named beneficiary.
Mortgage and loan servicers. A surviving family member living in the home can ask to be recognized as a "successor in interest."
Credit cards. Close the accounts and send any balance claims to the estate.
Insurance and pensions. Ask for claim forms.
Utilities, phone and subscriptions. Cancel or move them into someone else's name.

Social Security is usually told by the funeral home. If it wasn't, call SSA at 1-800-772-1213. They don't take notice of a death by letter alone.

Questions

Do I need to notify all three credit bureaus?

Equifax says that when one bureau places a death notice it shares it with the other two. Many families still write to all three so each one confirms in writing.

Do I have to pay the deceased person's credit card debt?

Usually not personally, unless you were a joint account holder or co-signer. Debts are normally paid from the estate. Every letter we write asks the company to send claims to the estate. If you're unsure, speak to a probate attorney.

Should I send the original death certificate?

No. Send a copy. Banks and insurers often ask for a certified copy, which you order from the county or state vital records office. Keep the originals.

What does "proof of authority" mean?

It's the court paper that says you can act for the estate: Letters Testamentary for an executor, or Letters of Administration for an administrator. A surviving spouse can usually notify the credit bureaus without one.

Why send it certified?

Certified Mail gives you a tracking number and a signed receipt. If a company later says it never heard about the death, you have proof of the date it was delivered.

Is my information stored?

The free letters are built in your browser. Nothing you type is sent anywhere unless you choose to have us mail them. If you do, we keep the letter text only until it's printed, then delete it and keep just the tracking details.