How to Submit TransUnion Death Notification?

You can file the TransUnion death notice if you are the surviving spouse, executor, personal representative, or another family member who has legal authority to act on the deceased's behalf, and you can present a certified death certificate together with a government‑issued photo ID.

Verify you also know the deceased's full name, Social Security number, and current TransUnion account numbers before moving on to the document‑collection step (Collect the exact documents TransUnion requires) and then to the method‑selection guide (Choose the fastest TransUnion submission method).

• Legal authority: probate court appointment, letters testamentary, or marital relationship
• Certified death certificate (original or notarized copy)
• Valid government photo ID matching the name on the death notice
• Deceased's full legal name, Social Security number, and TransUnion account details
• Permission to act on the estate's credit report

TransUnion requires three core documents to process a death notice.

• A certified copy of the deceased's death certificate (original preferred).
• Legal proof you can act on the estate, such as letters testamentary, letters of administration, or a court order.
• A government‑issued photo ID showing your name and address.
• The deceased's Social Security number and a brief written request that includes your contact information.

The fastest way to file a TransUnion death notice is the online portal; upload the scanned death certificate, executor ID, and any supporting documents, then submit with a few clicks. Use the TransUnion online death notice portal for immediate receipt and electronic confirmation.

If you cannot scan documents, the next‑quickest option is the dedicated phone line; a representative validates the paperwork live, but you may need to fax or mail copies afterward, which adds at least one business day before the notice is fully processed.

Submit the TransUnion death notice online by completing their secure portal in five quick steps.

1. Prepare required files - Have a certified copy of the death certificate and, if you're acting as executor, a copy of the court‑issued letters or power of attorney ready as digital PDFs or JPGs.
2. Visit the portal - Open the TransUnion deceased consumer portal on a computer or mobile device.
3. Start a new notice - Click 'Submit Death Notice,' then enter the deceased's full legal name, Social Security number, birth date, death date, and your relationship to the decedent.
4. Upload documentation - Attach the scanned death certificate (and any executor documents) in the designated fields; the system accepts PDF, PNG, or JPG up to 5 MB each.
5. Confirm and send - Review all entries, check the acknowledgment box that the information is truthful, then press 'Submit.' Note the confirmation number displayed; TransUnion typically updates the credit report within 30  -  60 days.

Dial 1‑800‑916‑8800 and use the script below to submit your TransUnion death notice.

Have the deceased's full name, Social Security number, date of death, and a copy of the death certificate (or acceptable alternative) handy before you call. The representative will ask for these details, then confirm the next steps.

Phone script

• 'Hello, I'm calling to file a TransUnion death notice for my [relationship, e.g., mother], [Full Name], SSN [XXX‑XX‑XXXX], who passed away on [Month Day Year].'
• 'I have a certified copy of the death certificate ready to send; may I provide the reference number now?'
• 'Please place a note on the credit report indicating 'Deceased' and remove any open inquiries.'
• 'Can you give me a case or reference number for this call, and tell me how long the update will take on the credit report?'
• 'Is there anything else you need from me to complete the TransUnion death notice?'

After the call, note the reference number and any mailing instructions the agent gives; you'll use them when you send the death notice by mail (see the next section).

Send the TransUnion death notice to the exact mailing address to avoid delays. Use TransUnion's prescribed envelope: Attn: Death Notice Department, TransUnion Consumer Solutions, P.O. Box 2000, Chester, PA 19016.

Include a clear photocopy of the death certificate, a signed statement identifying the submitter, a copy of the submitter's government ID, and proof of relationship (e.g., probate document). Place all items in a single envelope, label it 'Death Notice -  [Deceased's Full Name]', and seal securely.

Mail the package via certified mail with a return receipt; keep the receipt and all originals for your records. Write 'For credit report update' on the outer flap to help TransUnion route the request quickly. After mailing, the next section explains what TransUnion will change on the credit report once the notice is processed.

TransUnion marks the file as belonging to a deceased consumer and updates the record accordingly.

• Adds a 'Deceased' status flag and a note with the date of death.
• Places a 'Closed by death' notation on all open accounts tied to the deceased.
• Removes the deceased's credit utilization from the overall score calculation.
• Flags joint accounts and cosigner relationships, indicating survivor liability only.
• Halts reporting of new activity, inquiries, or collections for the deceased's credit report.

TransUnion typically completes the death notice processing and reflects changes on the credit report within 30 - 60 days.

The exact wait depends on how you submitted the notice and whether all required documents - especially a valid death certificate - were included. Online submissions often land near the 30‑day mark, while mailed notices can extend toward 60 days. Once processed, TransUnion flags the record as 'Deceased,' removes the individual from scoring models, and blocks new credit inquiries.

While the update is pending, regularly check the credit report for the deceased's status and keep copies of the submission receipt; these steps prepare you for the next section on alternatives when a death certificate isn't available (TransUnion death notice guidance).

If a certified death certificate isn't in hand, call TransUnion's death‑notice line first and ask which supporting papers they'll consider for your case. They may accept, but are not required to accept, any of the following  -  each should be sent with a brief note explaining why the certificate can't be provided.

• Obituary or funeral program that shows the full name, date and place of death
• Notarized affidavit from the executor or a close relative confirming the death
• Copy of a probate court order naming the deceased and the personal representative
• Letter from a licensed physician or coroner stating the death date (if available)
• Any other official record that clearly identifies the decedent's death

After you've gathered the documents, follow the same submission steps outlined in the previous sections, but include a cover letter referencing your phone conversation with TransUnion. If TransUnion still requires the death certificate, they will tell you the next steps.

A joint account stays open after the primary filer's death, so the survivor's credit report reflects any activity, while the decedent's TransUnion credit file shows a 'deceased' marker and no new liability.

For a mortgage shared with a spouse, the surviving borrower continues making payments; the creditor reports the payment history to the survivor's credit file, but the decedent's file only notes the death. A credit‑card account co‑owned with a sibling works the same way - charges after the death affect the surviving owner's score, not the decedent's. If a loan lists a cosigner, the surviving cosigner becomes fully responsible; contact the lender, provide the death certificate, and request removal of the decedent's name from the loan's public record. An auto loan where the deceased was the primary driver but the spouse is a listed authorized user will stay active; the spouse's credit report shows the loan's status, while the decedent's TransUnion credit report shows the account as belonging to a deceased consumer.

In all cases, inform each creditor of the TransUnion death notice, supply the death certificate, and ask them to update their reporting accordingly. Consumer Finance guidance on joint accounts explains this process in detail.

Submit the TransUnion death notice, then take these actions to stop post‑death identity theft on the credit report.

1. Ask TransUnion to mark the file with a 'Deceased' flag.
   Include the death certificate and the completed death notice form; the flag prevents new accounts from being opened.
2. Place a fraud alert on the deceased's credit report.
   Call 1‑800‑800‑5255 or use the online portal; the alert stays for 90 days and warns lenders to verify identity.
3. Freeze the credit file if you want stronger protection.
   A credit freeze blocks all inquiries until you lift it with a PIN, and it costs nothing.
4. Review the updated credit report for any unauthorized activity.
   Look for accounts opened after the death date; dispute each entry by sending a letter with a copy of the death certificate to TransUnion's dispute address.
5. Notify the other major bureaus - Equifax and Experian - of the death.
   Send them the same death notice and request the same 'Deceased' flag, fraud alert, or freeze.
6. Report any discovered fraud to the Federal Trade Commission and file a police report if necessary.
   Include the credit‑report screenshots and the TransUnion confirmation of the deceased flag.

These steps, performed after you've filed the TransUnion death notice (see 'submit the death notice online step‑by‑step'), lock down the credit file and deter thieves from exploiting the deceased's identity.