How to Notify the Credit Bureaus of a Death

Flagging a deceased person's credit file isn't just paperwork — it's one of the most effective ways to prevent someone from opening fraudulent accounts in their name after death. Here's how to notify all three major credit bureaus.

Why this matters

A deceased person's Social Security number and identity information remain a real target for fraud, since identity thieves specifically look for recently deceased people to open new accounts against. Flagging the credit file as deceased with each bureau closes that door.

Who can notify the bureaus

Only a spouse or another legally authorized representative — such as the estate's executor or administrator — can report a death to the credit bureaus.

What you'll need

A certified copy of the death certificate.
The deceased's full legal name, Social Security number, date of birth, date of death, and last known address.

How to contact each bureau

Experian — upload the death certificate online through Experian's process, or mail a copy to their Consumer Assistance Center.
TransUnion — mail a copy of the death certificate; TransUnion generally notes the account holder as deceased within about five business days.
Equifax — similar process: a mailed letter with a copy of the death certificate.

One bureau usually notifies the others

When one credit bureau adds a deceased notice to a file, it typically shares that update with the other two. That said, contacting more than one bureau directly is still worth doing to speed the process along rather than waiting on that handoff.

Let Estate Assist handle the rest

Estate Assist reads the estate's documents, builds a personalized checklist, and drafts the letters you need — so you're not piecing this together alone.

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Frequently asked questions

How quickly should I do this?

As soon as you have a certified death certificate in hand — reasonably promptly, since the identity-theft exposure window is highest in the weeks immediately following a death, especially once an obituary or public probate filing makes the death publicly known.

Should I send the original death certificate?

No — send a certified copy, not the original. You'll likely need the original (or additional certified copies) for other institutions.