What to do when an Earnest account holder dies
Report the death to Earnest Client Happiness at 1-888-601-2801
Notifying Earnest of a death is not a claim for money. It is the step that stops the account and starts whatever the loan's terms provide at the borrower's death, from a discharge of the balance to a claim the estate settles. Earnest Client Happiness (1-888-601-2801) handles it.
Gather the account holder's full name, date of birth, and any known account or policy numbers before contacting Earnest.
Death claim process
Follow these steps to file a death claim with Earnest:
Filing a claim
- The role of the individual in relation to the loan (primary borrower, cosigner, or student)
- The name of the individual who passed away
- The date of passing
- A death certificate
Required Documents
- Death certificate, for the deceased borrower, student, or cosigner
- The role of the individual in relation to the loan, primary borrower, cosigner, or studentEarnest asks for this explicitly.
- The name of the individual who passed away and the date of passing
- The loan or account numberPlus contact information for the person reporting the death.
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration, only if Earnest asks the estate representative to act on the accountEarnest reviews a death report on the death certificate alone.
Claims Contact
Website: Online portal →
What happens to each kind of account1
- Loan
Earnest states that when the primary borrower on a private student loan dies, the cosigner may be released from future repayment and the remaining balance forgiven. A student loan refinance may be fully discharged when the primary borrower dies.1
When a cosigner dies, a private student loan is not discharged: Earnest states the primary borrower is responsible for the remaining balance. On a refinance loan, a deceased cosigner may be removed after a review if the criteria are met, and the balance stays with the primary borrower.1
Accounts handled elsewhere3
- MOHELA
Servicing of every Earnest private student loan from October 26, 2026, including a death report2
- SST, powered by Alorica
Earnest personal loans originated before April 20201
Phone: 1-866-798-9888
Hours: Monday-Friday 5:00 AM-8:00 PM PT; Saturday 6:00 AM-10:00 AM PT
- Earnest military team
Earnest private student loans of service members1
Phone: 1-855-284-4879
Email: militarybenefits@earnest.com
What Earnest's agreement and guidance say1
- What it says about taxes
Earnest says the IRS does not require it to issue a Form 1099-C when the primary borrower's loan is discharged due to death or approved for Total and Permanent Disability.1
Not in Earnest's published guidance2
- A claim form
- Post-death forbearance window
Typically within five business days of receiving the death certificate, if it contains all the information Earnest needs to review the request.
Earnest Client Happiness can be reached by phone at 1-888-601-2801 and email at hello@earnest.com for questions throughout the claims process.
Sources
Data sourced from Earnest primary sources (20 pages reviewed). How we research.
Earnest death claims support
Earnest Client Happiness (death and discharge reporting)
Phone
Toll-free
Death or disability report on an Earnest Personal Loan
Personal loans serviced by SST, powered by Alorica
Hours
Mailing address
Website
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