How do I obtain a credit report for a deceased person? The spouse or executor of the estate may request the deceased person's credit report by mailing a request to each of the credit reporting companies.
Send a letter along with the following information about the deceased: - Legal name
- Social Security Number
- Date of birth
- Date of death
- Last known address
- A copy of the death certificate or Letters Testamentary. A Letters Testamentary is a document issued by a court or public official authorizing the Executor of a will to take control of a deceased person's estate.
Also send information about yourself, including: - Your full name
- Address for sending final confirmation
- In the case of an executor, include the court order or other document showing that you are an executor.
Use this simple template to notify the credit bureaus of your loved one’s death and request a credit freeze:
Send the request and information to all three credit reporting companies by mail: Equifax P.O. Box 105139 Atlanta, GA 30348-5139
Experian P.O. Box 2002 Allen, TX 75013
TransUnion P.O. Box 2000 Chester, PA 19016 Sample letter [Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State, Zip Code]
[Your Phone Number]
[Date]
[Credit Bureau’s Name]
[Credit Bureau’s Address]
[City, State, Zip Code]
Subject: Notification of Death and Request for Credit Freeze
To whom it may concern,
I am writing to inform you of the passing of [Name of Deceased], [relationship to you, e.g., my spouse]. [He/She] passed away on [Date of Death]. I kindly request that you freeze [his/her] credit report to prevent any potential fraud or unauthorized access.
Enclosed is a copy of [Name of Deceased]’s death certificate as proof. Please freeze [his/her] credit report and mark it as “deceased — do not issue credit.”
I would also like to request a final copy of [Name of Deceased]’s credit report for my records.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. Please confirm with me when you have received the notification and that a credit freeze has been placed.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Times for the credit freeze may vary. Transunion will update the individual’s credit report within five days of receiving the documents and send you a confirmation letter. Experian will add a death notice to your loved one’s credit report upon receiving notification from the Social Security Administration or the requestor. Equifax will add a death notice to your departed’s credit report upon receiving the documents. Confirm the freeze and ensure the account is flagged as deceased After sending your request to the credit bureaus, confirm that they have initiated the credit freeze and properly flagged the deceased individual’s account: 1. Allow some time for the credit bureaus to process your request. This typically takes a few days or up to a couple of weeks. 2. Reach out to each of the three major credit bureaus — TransUnion, Experian and Equifax — either via phone or online. 3. Ask them to verify that they have received your request to freeze the deceased individual’s credit report. 4. Ask if the deceased’s account has been appropriately flagged as “deceased — do not issue credit” to protect their information from potential fraud. 5. Request a copy of your loved one’s credit report While you are in contact with the credit bureaus, you should also request a copy of your loved one’s credit report. This will confirm that the report has been marked “deceased” and that a permanent credit freeze is in place. You can also use the credit report to assess your loved one’s financial standing. Read the credit report carefully to identify any discrepancies and all outstanding accounts, and note any accounts that need your attention. | 
