What to do when a Dovenmuehle account holder dies
Report the death to Dovenmuehle's Deceased Borrower / Successor in Interest at 1-866-397-5370
Notifying Dovenmuehle of a death is not a claim for money — it is the step that stops the account, fixes the balance owed as of the date of death, and puts Dovenmuehle on notice as a creditor of the estate. The Deceased Borrower / Successor in Interest (1-866-397-5370) handles it.
The claim process begins with a phone call to 1-866-397-5370. Have the account holder's full name, account numbers, and the death certificate available when making initial contact.
Death claim process
To file a claim after an account holder's death, here is what Dovenmuehle requires:
Filing a claim
- The mortgage loan account number
- A brief explanation of the financial circumstances
- Recent income documents, including pay stubs and benefit statements from Social Security, disability, unemployment, retirement or public assistance
- Tax returns from the previous two years
- A detailed listing of monthly household expenses
- Hardship documents are uploaded through the portal at loansolutioncenter.com
- By phone at 1-888-381-7679, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM CST
- By mail to Attn: Case Escalation Unit Research Department, 1 Corporate Drive Suite 360, Lake Zurich, IL 60047, with the loan number and last name
- Dovenmuehle acknowledges the inquiry in writing within 3 business days and sets a resolution date 15 calendar days from receipt, extendable to no more than 30 calendar days
- Status questions on an ongoing review go to Loss Mitigation at 1-866-397-5370 instead
Required Documents
- The documents Dovenmuehle lists when it quotes the fee, for an assumption or a title change into an estate, heir or trustDovenmuehle provides the list with the fee before it performs the service.
What happens to each kind of account1
- Loan
A title change can put the home in the name of the estate, an heir or a trust without anyone taking on new liability. A qualifying assumption is "the addition of a borrower assuming liability under an existing loan"; a simple assumption is "without release of liability."1
Releasing the deceased borrower from liability is priced separately and only for government loans, as a VA or FHA Title Change with Release of Liability.1
For temporary difficulty Dovenmuehle lists reinstatement, a forbearance plan and a repayment plan. For long-term difficulty it lists a modification, a sale of the property (including a short sale), a deed-in-lieu of foreclosure, or a partial claim, a one-time interest-free loan from the mortgage guarantor.2
State requirements Dovenmuehle statesHawaii, New York
Federal law on calling a home loan after a death
These exemptions apply to a loan secured by residential real property containing less than five dwelling units.12 U.S.C. § 1701j-3(d); 12 CFR 191.5(b), 141.14Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
- A lender may not exercise a due-on-sale clause upon a transfer by devise, descent, or operation of law on the death of a joint tenant or tenant by the entirety.12 U.S.C. § 1701j-3(d)(3); 12 CFR 191.5(b)(1)(iii)Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
- A lender may not exercise a due-on-sale clause upon a transfer to a relative resulting from the death of a borrower.12 U.S.C. § 1701j-3(d)(5)Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
- A lender may not exercise a due-on-sale clause upon a transfer where the spouse or children of the borrower become an owner of the property.12 U.S.C. § 1701j-3(d)(6)Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
A federal regulation sets further conditions on these transfers.12 CFR 191.5(b)(1)(v)Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
Accounts handled elsewhere1
- BackInTheBlack, LLC
The loansolutioncenter.com portal where hardship documents are uploaded5
What Dovenmuehle's agreement and guidance say1
- Fees
Title Change / Estate Planning / Trust Transfer: $0.00-$450.00 plus recording. Simple Assumption: $75.00-$100.00. Qualifying Mortgage Loan Assumption: 1% of the principal balance ($400.00-$900.00) plus credit report, disclosure and recording costs.1
VA Title Change with Release of Liability: $686.00-$763.00. FHA Title Change with Release of Liability: $1,550.00. Each is plus credit report, title update and recording.1
Not in Dovenmuehle's published guidance3
- A procedure for reporting a death
- A claim form
- How long a claim takes
Sources5
- 1.Fee schedule, Current as of 4/3/26
- 2.Alternatives to Foreclosure
- 3.Hawaii fee schedule
- 4.New York fee schedule
- 5.Loan Solution Center (loansolutioncenter.com)
Dovenmuehle's Deceased Borrower / Successor in Interest can be reached by phone at 1-866-397-5370 for questions throughout the claims process.
Sources
Data sourced from Dovenmuehle primary sources (11 pages reviewed). How we research.
Dovenmuehle death claims support
Deceased Borrower / Successor in Interest
Phone
Mailing address
Website
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