Places to Notify after Someone Dies

Nothing has to be done immediately after a person’s death. Take the time you need. Remember that everyone grieves differently and there is no right way to grieve. In the following weeks, you may want to notify a few places about your loved one’s death. These may include:

• The Social Security Administration. If the deceased was receiving Social Security benefits, you need to stop the checks.
• Life insurance companies. You will need a death certificate and policy numbers to make claims on any policies.
• Credit agencies. To prevent identity theft, you will want to send copies of the death certificate to the three major firms: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
• Banks and financial institutions. If your loved one left a list of accounts and passwords, it will be much easier to close or change accounts. You will need a copy of the death certificate if the person did not leave a list.

Source: National Institute on Aging