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After The Funeral - Checklist

Checklist
When a family member or friend has died, it is important to notify various government agencies, banks, creditors, and credit reporting agencies of the death. To reduce the risk of identity theft, these notifications should be made promptly after the death.


To expedite notification, you should initially make the contact by telephone followed by written verification. For many of the government agencies and financial entities, you will need the decedent’s social security number, a copy of the death certificate, and, if you are a personal representative (executor) of the estate, your appointment form from the probate court. Make sure to retain copies of all notices that you send.


Below is a checklist of possible agencies and businesses that should be notified of the death. Because each individual case is unique, the list may not be complete. Also, the funeral home may have notified some of the government agencies on your behalf. Please consult with the funeral director when you receive this list so you can check off those agencies that have been notified by the funeral director.








  • State and/or County Board of Elections (if the decedent was a registered voter). The California Department of Health will notify the county's Board of Elections of a death. Then the Board of Elections will send a letter to verify the voter's status as deceased 15 days prior to removing the deceased from their registry.

If the decedent lived alone, uncollected mail might accumulate and attract unwanted attention. To forward the decedent’s mail to another address, the executor or administrator of the decedent’s estate needs to obtain a change of address form (USPS Form 3575) either online or at the local Post Office location, fill it out, and file it. This can be done online or in person. You will need to certify on the form that you are the person who has been appointed by the probate court to act as executor or administrator of the estate. 


  • Credit card and merchant card companies.


  • Banks, savings and loan associations, and credit unions.


  • Mortgage companies and lenders.


  • Financial planners and stockbrokers.


  • Pension providers.


  • Life insurers and annuity companies.


  • Health, medical and dental insurers.


  • Disability insurer.


  • Automotive insurer


  • Mutual benefit companies.


  • Professional associations and unions.


  • Health clubs and athletic clubs.


  • Automobile clubs.


  • Public library.


  • Alumni clubs.


  • Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions, Veterans’ organizations and clubs

Credit Reporting Agencies
There are three national credit reporting agencies which you should notify of the death and 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.



  • Equifax - 800-525-6285, P.O. Box 105139, Atlanta, Georgia 30348.


  • TransUnion - 800-680-7289, P.O. Box 2000, Chester, Pennsylvania 19022 - 2000.


Click the following link for a form to print, complete, and mail to notify the credit agency of the death. You will need to send a copy to each agency. Download Form

Notifying Social Media Sites About a Death
See the instructions below for notifying several of the most popular social media sites of a death. Since these websites provide various options, it is always advisable to visit the website and determine what course of action may be best. For example, with Facebook, there are three options upon a report of a death. The first would be to permanently delete the decedent’s account. A second option is to “memorialize” the account which allows Facebook friends of the decedent to view the profile and post memorial messages. The final option is available if the decedent, during his or her lifetime, is designated a Legacy Contact. The individual who had been designated as the Legacy Contact would be able to post to the profile to share funeral information and to extend appreciations. 


Websites for social media sites are as follows:

Facebook
  (a) Go to www.facebook.com/help
  (b) Click on “Manage Your Account” link on left side of page
  (c) Click “Memorialized Accounts” link
  (d) You will need a death certificate or other proof of death (obituary)
  (e) You will need proof of your authority like a Power of Attorney, Birth Certificate, Last Will or Testament, or your appointment as           executor or administrator of the estate
  (f) Submit information using Facebook’s online form.


Google
  (a) Go to https://support.google.com/accounts/troubleshooter/6357590?hl=EN
  (b) Click on “Close the account of a deceased user.”
  (c) Fill in your and the decedent’s information
  (d) You need to scan your government-issued ID or driver’s license
  (e) You will need to scan the decedent’s death certificate
  (f) Submit.


Instagram
  (a) Go to https://help.instagram.com/264154560391256/
  (b) Select if you want to memorialize or remove the account
  (c) You will need the decedent’s birth certificate and death certificate and your appointment as executor or administrator of the             decedent’s estate
  (d) Fill out the online form and submit it.


LinkedIn
  (a) Go to www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/ask/ts-rdmlp
  (b) Fill in information about yourself and the decedent on the form
  (c) Add a link to an obituary or related news article on the death
  (d) Submit report.


X
  (a) Go to https://help.x.com/en/rules-and-policies/contact-x-about-a-deceased-family-members-account
  (b) Click on “Request the removal of a deceased user's account”
  (c) Fill out the Report Form and submit to X. X will follow up after reviewing the report.
 

For a fee of $1.00, you can list the decedent’s name on the Deceased Do Not Contact List which is maintained by the Direct Marketing Association. All members of the Direct Marketing Association will delete the decedent’s name from their mailing lists once the name is posted. You can register by going to: https://www.ims-dm.com/cgi/ddnc.php