How to Get Equifax Deceased Credit Report?

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• The estate's executor or court‑appointed personal representative can request the deceased Equifax credit report.
• A surviving spouse who is also the executor or who holds a notarized authorization may request it.
• A court‑appointed administrator for an intestate estate is eligible to request the report.
• A legal guardian or conservator of the deceased's minor children may request the report.
• An attorney or family member with a valid power‑of‑attorney (effective at death) or a court order granting access can request the report (Equifax deceased credit report guidelines).

The deceased Equifax credit report requires a certified death certificate, proof that you're legally authorized to act, and valid photo ID.

1. Submit a certified copy of the decedent's death certificate; a hospital or funeral‑home version works if it bears the official seal.
2. Include letters testamentary, letters of administration, or a court‑issued appointment confirming you are the executor or administrator.
3. Attach a clear, government‑issued photo ID (driver's license or passport) showing your name and address.
4. Provide the decedent's full name, Social Security number, and current mailing address as listed on the last credit file.
5. Complete Equifax's request form and mail everything to the address on the Equifax deceased credit report request page.

There is no charge for a deceased Equifax credit report when the request comes from the estate's executor, administrator, or a court‑appointed legal representative; Equifax provides it free of cost under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, though you may incur minimal expenses for certified‑mail delivery or extra copies if you need more than the single report.

Equifax's official deceased‑consumer page confirms the free‑of‑fee policy, and the same applies to the other major bureaus, so you won't need to budget for a report fee before moving on to the step‑by‑step request process.

The request process for a deceased Equifax credit report follows a clear, five‑step routine.

1. Download the official form - Visit the Equifax website and save the Equifax Deceased Consumer Report Request form.
2. Complete the form - Enter the deceased's personal details, your role as executor or administrator, and a brief reason for the request.
3. Gather required documents - Include a certified death certificate, a copy of the court‑issued letters testament or appointment, and a government‑issued ID that proves your identity.
4. Submit the packet - Mail (or fax, if you prefer) the completed form and all attachments to the address listed on the form. Use certified mail for tracking; keep a copy for your records.
5. Wait for confirmation - Equifax will acknowledge receipt within 5 business days and deliver the deceased credit report by mail or secure email within 30 days.

Follow these steps exactly to obtain the report quickly and avoid delays.

Equifax usually delivers a deceased Equifax credit report within five to seven business days after it receives all required documents, though occasional cases extend to ten business days.

If any paperwork is missing or requires verification, the clock pauses until the issue is resolved, which can add a few days. Once the report arrives, you can move on to the 'what you should check on the deceased Equifax credit report' section for the next steps. (Equifax deceased credit report processing time)

Inspect the deceased Equifax credit report for inaccurate personal data, unauthorized accounts, and any lingering debts that could affect the estate.

• Name, Social Security number, and date of death - verify they match the death certificate.
• Account numbers, balances, and status - note open, closed, or charged‑off items.
• Joint or co‑signed accounts - identify which belong to the estate versus surviving owners.
• Recent credit inquiries - flag any that occurred after the death date.
• Fraud alerts or identity‑theft flags - ensure they are in place to block new activity.
• Collections, judgments, or tax liens - confirm amounts and creditor details for settlement.
• Errors or duplicate entries - mark them for dispute.

For official guidance, see Equifax's deceased credit‑report instructions.

The executor disputes or closes an account by sending a formal, documented request to Equifax.

• Collect the death certificate, letters testament or court‑issued letters of administration, and any recent statements that show the account belongs to the deceased.
• Draft a concise dispute letter: name the account, explain why it is inaccurate or why it should be closed (e.g., 'the account holder is deceased'), and state the desired outcome (removal or closure).
• Attach copies of all supporting documents; keep originals for your records.
• Mail the package via certified mail to Equifax's dispute address (or use the Equifax dispute portal) and retain the tracking receipt.
• Equifax must investigate within 30 days and send the findings. If the result is unsatisfactory, the executor can file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau or appeal the decision.
• For accounts that remain open with the creditor, the executor should also notify the creditor directly, providing the same proof, and request the account be closed or marked 'deceased.'

Once the disputed or closed accounts are reflected on the updated deceased Equifax credit report, proceed to the next section on protecting the estate from post‑death identity theft.

Only a court‑appointed personal representative or a person with a specific court order can legally obtain a deceased Equifax credit report.

If you are the executor or administrator named in the probate court's letters of administration, submit those letters, the death certificate, and a completed Equifax request form; Equifax typically processes the request within 15 days (Equifax deceased consumer request page).

If you are not the personal representative, you must first obtain a court order that expressly authorizes you to act on the estate - such as a petition for access granted to a statutory heir or a court‑issued authority to manage specific accounts - then provide that order, the death certificate, and the request form; without this judicial permission, no other documentation (including a power of attorney or simple proof of relationship) will suffice.

When the deceased had joint or business accounts, the executor must first document each relationship before requesting the deceased Equifax credit report.

Gather all joint and business statements, the death certificate, and a certified copy of the court‑issued letters of executor or administrator authority; for business accounts also include the incorporation papers and a resolution naming the executor. Submit these items together with the completed Equifax deceased credit report request form.

Once the report arrives, close or transfer joint accounts, notify surviving co‑owners, update business filings, and then proceed to the next step of protecting the estate from post‑death identity theft.

Executor or administrator should file a fraud alert with one credit bureau within 24 hours of the death; the alert forces lenders to verify identity before opening new accounts. Follow by placing a credit freeze on the deceased Equifax credit report - this blocks any inquiry until the freeze is lifted with a court‑ordered PIN, effectively stopping thieves from exploiting the estate's credit.

Next, keep the deceased Equifax credit report on a secure, offline drive and review it monthly for unfamiliar entries. Promptly close or dispute any open accounts using the dispute steps outlined earlier. Enlist a reputable identity theft monitoring service that scans all three bureaus for the deceased's SSN, and store all legal documents (death certificate, letters testamentary) in a locked file to prevent misuse. Continuous vigilance and immediate freezes protect the estate from post‑death identity theft.