How to Notify Credit Bureaus of a Death

A deceased person's credit file can remain active until the credit bureaus process a death report. Criminals know this. Postmortem identity theft — sometimes called "ghosting" — targets the dead precisely because no one is monitoring their credit reports. Contact all three bureaus directly and request a deceased alert.

Why You Need to Do This Yourself

Direct notification gives you a way to confirm that each bureau has placed the alert. TransUnion notes that notifying one bureau can alert the others, but contact all three and verify each flag.

What to Send to Each Bureau

Mail a physical packet to each bureau via certified mail with return receipt requested so you have proof of delivery.

Each packet should include:

• A formal request letter asking the bureau to place a deceased alert and a "Do Not Issue Credit" flag. Include the deceased's full legal name, Social Security number, date of birth, date of death, and last known address.
• A copy of the certified death certificate (keep certified originals on hand).
• Proof of your authority — a copy of letters testamentary or letters of administration from the probate court.
• A copy of your government-issued photo ID.

Where to Mail Each Packet

What Happens After You Report

TransUnion says notifying one bureau can alert the others, but follow up with all three to confirm that each deceased indicator is active.

Request the deceased's final credit report when you send your packet. Use it to identify active accounts and review recent inquiries, then determine which creditors to notify and whether any activity needs to be disputed.

If Fraud Has Already Happened

If the final credit report shows accounts or inquiries you don't recognize, file a police report and submit a fraud affidavit to each bureau. Contact the fraudulent creditors directly to dispute the accounts. The Federal Trade Commission also accepts identity theft reports at IdentityTheft.gov, which generates a recovery plan and pre-filled letters.

One Task Among Many

Notifying the credit bureaus is one of over 40 notifications an executor needs to handle in the first month after a death. The Notifying Everyone — Master Template Kit includes pre-written notification letters for each credit bureau, along with a timeline that prioritizes the most urgent tasks — like this one — so nothing falls through the cracks.