Death and Credit – Important Info You Need to Know

When a family member passes away, there are certain steps that should be taken to alert the passing to the major credit reporting agencies and to assess whether a freeze, or lifting a freeze, on their credit is needed. Swift action is important when it comes to a decedent’s credit. Why? Because if the major credit reporting agencies, along with the financial institutions where your deceased family member had open checking accounts, saving accounts, retirement accounts, etc. are not timely notified, your loved one’s accounts would remain open and could heighten the risk of identity theft and other issues. Suffice it to say, when someone passes on, their credit reports aren’t closed automatically. There needs to be action taken by a personal representative to ensure the accounts are closed properly. What Happens When Credit Reporting Agencies are Notified of a Death Credit reporting agencies are notified when someone passes on in one of...