All creditors should be notified promptly following a death. If there is to be a delay in meeting debts or installment payments, you may be able to file for extensions. Many creditors are sympathetic to these situations and are willing to grant your requests. If credit insurance or mortgage insurance policies were in force, purchases made on credit (vehicles, furniture, etc.) or the home mortgage may be paid off by the insurance. Ask your lending institution.
Also notify the major credit reporting agencies, including Experian,
Equifax, and
TransUnion. Instruct them to list all accounts as: “Closed. Account Holder is Deceased.” You may also request a credit report to obtain a list of all creditors and to review recent credit activities.
Social Security and other government agencies should be contacted. These agencies could also include the:
- Veteran’s Administration, if your loved one served in the military.
- Defense Finance and Accounting Service, if the deceased was a military service retiree receiving benefits.
- Office of Personnel Management, if they were a retired or former federal civil service employee.
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service, if your loved one was not a U.S. citizen.
- Department of Motor Vehicles, if decedent had a driver’s license or state I.D. card.
Clubs, associations, and social groups need to know. Did your loved one belong to any professional associations or unions? Even just your local video rental store should know, as should the public library. Here’s a check list for you:
- Professional associations and unions
- Health clubs and athletic clubs
- Automobile clubs
- Video rental stores
- Public library
- College Alumni clubs
- Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions, Veterans’ organizations and clubs
All online accounts should be closed. While there are companies, such as
Entrustet,
Legacy Locker, and
DataInherit, whose sole purpose is to help you keep track of all your digital “assets”, including your passwords and other log-in details, chances are your loved one didn’t subscribe to any of their services. However, if they did, you’re one step ahead of the game.
But if not, you might be faced with ferreting out your loved one’s many online accounts – and it could take some time. Here’s a brief overview of those digital realms you should monitor, and eventually close:
- Email accounts
- Facebook
- Twitter
- LinkedIn
- You Tube
- Blogging accounts
- Online banking or investment portals