How Do You Report a Death to Credit Bureaus?

Reporting a death stops fraudsters from opening accounts in the deceased's name and prevents lenders from adding new debt that never existed.

Credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) require a death certificate to place a 'deceased' flag on the file; that flag freezes the credit report, removes the person from active scoring, and protects the estate from erroneous collections.

After you obtain the death certificate, you'll prepare a notification letter and send it to all three bureaus; prompt reporting ensures the updates occur before creditors act.

Only the estate's legal representative or certain close relatives may file the death notice with the credit bureaus.

• Executor or personal representative named in the will submits the notification letter and a death certificate to Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
• Court‑appointed administrator handles the same paperwork when no executor is available.
• Surviving spouse or civil partner sends the required documents if they are not superseded by an appointed representative.
• Adult children of the deceased may act as next‑of‑kin, attaching the death certificate to each bureau's notification form.
• Parents of the deceased step in when no spouse, executor, or administrator is in place, providing the death certificate with the notification letter.

You need a certified copy of the death certificate before you contact the credit bureaus.

1. Contact the county or state vital records office where the decedent died.
2. Submit a request form, a government‑issued ID, and proof of your legal interest (executor, surviving spouse, or authorized heir).
3. Pay the fee - most offices charge $10‑$15 per certified copy.
4. Order at least two copies: one for your records and one to attach to each notification letter you'll send to Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
5. Store the original in a safe place; use the copies for all bureau communications and any dispute filings.

Having the death certificate on hand lets you complete the notification letter quickly and provides the proof the credit bureaus require to place a 'deceased' flag on the account.

Contact Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion within 48 hours of securing the death certificate, sending each the same notification letter; the earlier 'grab death certificate copy first' step ensures you have a certified copy ready, and the upcoming 'mail certified for proof' section explains why you'll later need a receipt.

• Call the bureau's dedicated death‑report line or use its online portal (e.g., Equifax deceased consumer reporting, Experian deceased consumer portal, TransUnion deceased consumer upload) and provide the consumer's name, SSN, and your relationship.
• Fax or email a clear photocopy of the death certificate alongside the notification letter; the bureau will flag the file as 'deceased.'
• Include the prepared notification letter, signed, stating that the consumer is deceased and requesting a 'deceased' status.
• Save the transmission receipt (fax confirmation number or email timestamp) for later certified‑mail proof.

Your notification letter must name the deceased, attach the death certificate, and tell the credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) exactly what you want them to do.

• Your full name, address, and phone number
• Date of the letter
• Subject line: 'Notice of Death - [Deceased's Full Name]'
• Deceased's full legal name and Social Security Number
• Date of death (as shown on the death certificate)
• Statement that you are notifying the bureau on behalf of the estate (or as an authorized representative)
• Request to mark the file as 'deceased' and halt any further reporting or credit activity
• Attach a clear copy of the death certificate (see 'grab death certificate copy first')
• Ask for written confirmation that the file has been updated
• Your signature

Send this concise, factual letter to each bureau before you move on to the certified‑mail step (see 'mail certified for proof').

Send the notification letter to each credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) by certified mail and keep the receipt as proof. Include a clear photocopy of the death certificate, the deceased's full name, Social Security number, and your contact details; address the envelope exactly as each bureau lists on its website.

Track the delivery online, file the receipt with the copy of the death certificate, and be prepared to present both if a bureau later disputes the update. With certified‑mail proof secured, you can proceed to the next step - dodging the four common reporting traps. Learn how to send certified mail with tracking.

• Notify Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion together; sending a letter to only one bureau leaves the other two unaware and prolongs the removal process.
• Attach a clear copy of the death certificate to every notification letter; omitting it forces the credit bureaus to request proof, delaying updates (as we covered above).
• Use certified mail with tracking for the notification letter; informal emails or faxed copies lack the legal paper trail that credit bureaus require.
• Address joint accounts separately; assuming the surviving co‑owner's information will auto‑adjust often results in lingering balances that stay on the deceased's report.

You confirm the credit bureaus updated the record by checking each bureau's file for a 'Deceased' notation.

1. Pull a free report from each bureau - Use AnnualCreditReport.com or the bureaus' own sites to request the latest report from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. The first line should read 'Deceased' followed by the date you mailed the notification letter.
2. Call or log into the bureau's portal - Mention your notification letter and attach a copy of the death certificate if asked. Ask the representative to read back the status code they entered; they will note the update in their system.
3. Scan for new activity - Verify that no new inquiries, credit cards, or loans appear after the update date. Unexpected activity means the death flag may not have been applied correctly.
4. Save the proof - Keep any email, fax confirmation, or mailed acknowledgment that each bureau sends. File these with your original death certificate and the notification letter for future disputes or joint‑account fixes.

If you leave a joint account unchanged, the surviving co‑owner's activity continues to appear on the deceased's credit report; the bureaus will still list the balance under both names, which can trigger new inquiries, missed‑payment alerts, or collection notices that the estate never authorized.

If you proactively close or freeze the deceased's share, you eliminate those alerts; send each credit bureau a notification letter, attach a copy of the death certificate, and ask them to mark the account as 'deceased' or 'closed' for the deceased party, while the creditor updates the record for the surviving co‑owner - this clears the file quickly and prevents future disputes, setting the stage for the next step of reporting as a non‑family executor.

When you act as a non‑family executor, start by securing the court‑issued letters of testamentary (or letters of administration) that prove your authority, then attach a clear copy of the death certificate to your notification letter addressed to Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion; in the letter state your role as executor, provide the deceased's full name, Social Security number, and your contact information, and explicitly request that the bureaus flag the record as deceased and close any open accounts tied to the estate;

include the estate's tax identification number if available, and send the packet by certified mail so you have proof of delivery, repeating the process for each bureau to ensure all three receive identical documentation and can update their files promptly.