How to Notify the Three Credit Bureaus

Notifying the three major credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — places a "deceased" flag on the credit file, which helps prevent identity theft. Deceased individuals are prime targets for identity thieves because the fraud may go undetected for months. Send a written notification to each bureau including a certified copy of the death certificate, the deceased's full legal name, Social Security number, date of birth, and last known address.

Mail your notifications to: Equifax — P.O. Box 105069, Atlanta, GA 30348; Experian — P.O. Box 4500, Allen, TX 75013; TransUnion — P.O. Box 2000, Chester, PA 19016. Send each letter via certified mail with return receipt so you have proof of delivery. Processing typically takes 2 to 4 weeks.

At the same time, request a copy of the deceased's credit report from each bureau. As the executor or administrator of the estate, you have the legal right to access this report. The credit report is one of the best tools for discovering all of the deceased's debts, credit accounts, and financial obligations — it may reveal accounts and debts that family members did not know about. Review the report carefully and use it as a checklist for notifying creditors and closing accounts. If you discover any accounts that were opened fraudulently (either before or after the death), file an identity theft report with the FTC at IdentityTheft.gov and dispute the accounts with each bureau.