The Federal Election Commission regulates federal campaign finance under the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (52 U.S.C. § 30101 et seq.). When a federal candidate or a committee treasurer dies, the committee faces specific FEC obligations: filing a termination report, disposing of remaining funds within strict rules (no personal use), naming a replacement treasurer to avoid a statutory ban on receipts and expenditures, and obtaining a termination approval letter from the Commission before reporting duties end.

Death notification

The FEC does not accept a death certificate as a stand-alone notification. Instead, the committee (through a successor treasurer or estate representative) must act on FEC filings. If the treasurer has died, the committee must amend its Statement of Organization (FEC Form 1) within 10 days to name a new treasurer; under 52 U.S.C. § 30102(a) and 11 CFR 102.7, the committee may not accept contributions or make expenditures while the treasurer office is vacant. If the candidate has died, the authorized committee continues to exist until it files a termination report on Form 3 (House/Senate) or Form 3P (Presidential) and receives a termination approval letter from the Commission.

Deadline: Form 1 amendment for treasurer change: within 10 days of the change (11 CFR 102.2). Termination report: any time the committee meets the criteria (no longer receives contributions or makes expenditures). Routine reports continue until the FEC issues a termination approval letter.

Survivor benefits

The FEC offers 1 benefit for surviving family members.

No Survivor Benefits

The FEC does not pay survivor benefits. It is a regulatory agency that oversees campaign finance disclosure. The "benefit" to survivors of a deceased candidate or treasurer is procedural: closing out the committee properly so the estate is not exposed to continuing reporting liability and so remaining campaign funds are disposed of in a permitted way.

Forms

FEC Form 1Statement of Organization

Used to register a federal political committee and to file the amended Statement of Organization required within 10 days when the treasurer (or any other previously reported information) changes (11 CFR 102.2).

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FEC Form 3Report of Receipts and Disbursements (House/Senate Authorized Committees)

Routine financial report filed by House and Senate candidates' authorized committees. The committee files its termination report on this form by checking the "Termination Report (TER)" box.

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FEC Form 3XReport of Receipts and Disbursements (PACs and Party Committees)

Routine financial report filed by PACs and political party committees. PACs and parties file their termination reports on this form by checking the "Termination Report (TER)" box.

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FEC Form 3PReport of Receipts and Disbursements (Presidential Committees)

Routine financial report filed by presidential candidates' authorized committees. Used for the termination report by checking the "Termination Report (TER)" box.

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FEC Form 8Debt Settlement Plan

Used by a terminating committee that cannot pay its outstanding debts in full. Subject to FEC review and approval under 11 CFR 116.2 and 11 CFR 116.7.

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FEC Form 99Miscellaneous Report to the FEC

Used by registered committees to submit an explanatory letter to the Commission — including correspondence accompanying a treasurer-change amendment or a termination request.

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When someone dies

Notifying the FEC after a death

7-step process, 6 required documents, and 1 survivor benefit.

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Frequently asked questions

Yes. Under 52 U.S.C. § 30102 and 11 CFR 102.7, the treasurer is responsible for authorizing expenditures, segregating committee funds from personal funds, and signing reports. Personal liability for filing failures and recordkeeping violations is a well-established reason committees designate an assistant treasurer at the time of organization.

Yes, through a debt settlement plan. Under 11 CFR 116.2, a terminating committee that cannot pay its debts in full may file FEC Form 8 (Debt Settlement Plan). The Commission reviews the plan to confirm it complies with 11 CFR 116.7 and either approves the settlement or returns it for revision. Committees under FEC enforcement, audit, or litigation cannot terminate until those matters are resolved.

Committees file the termination report on Form 3 (House/Senate authorized committees), Form 3X (PACs and party committees), or Form 3P (Presidential committees) by checking the "Termination Report (TER)" box in the Type of Report section. It may be combined with a regularly scheduled report and may be filed at any time the criteria are met.

Only when the FEC issues a termination approval letter. Filing the termination report by itself does not close the committee. Until the approval letter arrives, the committee must continue filing all otherwise-required reports on schedule.