How to Close Credit Card Accounts

Call each credit card company's customer service line and say: "I am calling to report the death of the cardholder [name] and close the account. I am the executor of the estate." They will ask for the account number, the deceased's Social Security number, and your contact information. Some companies will close the account over the phone; others will require a written request with a death certificate.

Before closing each account, request the current balance and the last 3 to 6 months of statements. Review the statements for recurring charges — streaming services, subscriptions, insurance premiums, and memberships — that need to be canceled separately with each merchant. Also check for any credit card benefits that may apply: some cards include purchase protection, travel insurance, or even credit card payment protection insurance that pays off the balance upon the cardholder's death.

Outstanding credit card balances are debts of the estate, not your personal responsibility (unless you were a joint account holder, not merely an authorized user). Do not pay these debts from your personal funds. The estate pays creditors in a priority order set by state law, and unsecured credit card debt is typically at the bottom of that list. If the estate is insolvent, credit card companies may receive partial payment or nothing at all. If a credit card company calls you demanding payment, you can direct them to submit a claim to the estate and request that they communicate only in writing.