Mail, credit reports and identity theft after a death

General information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Last reviewed Oct 31, 2026.

Quick answerIdentity thieves target people who have died. Report the death to Social Security, send a death certificate to one of the three credit bureaus so a deceased notice is added (it will tell the other two), file the person’s final tax return, and keep the obituary short. To forward the person’s mail to a different address, USPS requires proof that you are the executor or administrator; a death certificate alone isn’t enough.

Step by step

Make sure Social Security knows. The funeral home usually reports it. See Social Security when someone dies.
Notify a credit bureau (details below).
Limit the obituary. The IRS warns against putting too much information in it that identity thieves could use.
File the final tax return when due. See final tax return.
Handle the mail (below), and register for the deceased do-not-contact list to cut advertising.
Close or freeze accounts and watch for new activity. See bank accounts after a death.
If you find fraud, report it (IRS Form 14039 for tax-related identity theft).

Credit bureaus

Notifying any one of Equifax, Experian or TransUnion gets a deceased notice added, and that bureau notifies the other two.
A spouse or legally authorized representative mails a copy of the death certificate with the person’s legal name, Social Security number, birth date and death date, plus their own name, mailing address and a copy of their ID. If you aren’t the spouse, include court papers showing you can act for the estate.
Equifax’s mailing address: Equifax Information Services LLC, P.O. Box 105139, Atlanta, GA 30348-5139.

Notify one bureau; documents; mailing address. Source: Equifax – Contacting credit bureaus after a relative’s death, checked Oct 31, 2026.

IRS stepsFederal law

File the deceased’s final returns when due; send credit bureaus the death certificate and ask for a deceased alert; watch credit reports; avoid putting too much information in the obituary.
You can file Form 14039, Identity Theft Affidavit, for a deceased person if you find tax-related identity theft.

Deceased person identity theft steps; Form 14039 for a deceased person. Source: IRS – Identity theft guide for individuals, checked Oct 31, 2026.

MailFederal law

Same address: if you shared the address, you may open and manage the deceased’s mail, forward all of it, or forward a single piece (cross out the address, write “Forward to” and the new address).
Different address: to forward the deceased’s mail to yourself, go to a Post Office, show documented proof that you’re the appointed executor or administrator, and complete a change-of-address request in person. A death certificate alone isn’t enough.
Advertising: registering the name on the Data and Marketing Association’s Deceased Do Not Contact list should cut advertising mail within 3 months.

Shared address options, in-person change of address with proof of appointment, Deceased Do Not Contact list. Source: USPS – Mail for the deceased, checked Oct 31, 2026.

Does the state matter?

The steps above are the same in every state. Becoming executor or administrator is state law: see NH · CA · TX · FL · OH.

Not yet verified: how New Hampshire, California, Texas, Florida and Ohio cancel a deceased person’s driver’s license or ID and update voter rolls. Ask the state motor vehicle agency and your local election office.

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