How to report a death to Experian
Report the death to Experian Consumer Assistance Center
Settling an estate at Experian means notification, not a claim. One request reports the death so the credit file carries a deceased marker; the other asks for the deceased person's credit report, the fullest available list of the open accounts and debts the estate must resolve. Experian Consumer Assistance Center handles both.
Gather the account holder's full name, date of birth, and any known account or policy numbers before contacting Experian.
Reporting a death
Follow these steps to file a death claim with Experian:
Reporting the death
- Name
- Social Security number
- Date of birth
- Date of death
- One copy of the death certificate
- The deceased person's full name including middle initial and generation, Social Security number, date of birth, date of death and last known address
- Your full name, Social Security number, date of birth and complete addresses for the past two years
- One copy of a government-issued identification card displaying your current address
- One copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, insurance statement or similar
Required Documents
- Death certificate, to report the deathNot the original. Experian's guide says to obtain a certified copy if you do not already have one.
- The deceased person's details, to report the deathName, Social Security number, date of birth and date of death.
- Documentation showing you are legally authorized to act for the deceased person, if you are not the spouseFor example, a copy of a legal document with a court seal showing you are the executor of the estate.
- Death certificate, to request the deceased person's credit reportOne copy.
- The deceased person's information, to request the deceased person's credit reportFull name including middle initial and generation (Jr., II, III), Social Security number, date of birth, date of death and last known address.
- Your own identifying details, to request the deceased person's credit reportFull name including middle initial and generation, Social Security number, date of birth and complete addresses for the past two years.
- Government-issued identification card, to request the deceased person's credit reportOne copy, such as a driver's license or state ID card, displaying your current address.
- Proof of address, to request the deceased person's credit reportOne copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, insurance statement or similar.
What happens to each kind of account1
What Experian provides to the estate1
- List of the deceased person's accounts
A spouse or another legally authorized person, such as the executor, can request the deceased person's credit report from Experian by mail.2
What Experian's agreement and guidance say2
- Telling the institution
Experian is usually informed of a death by the Social Security Administration or by the deceased person's creditors. Notifying Experian directly helps the process move more quickly.3
- What it does when notified
Once Experian receives the death certificate, it adds a "deceased indicator" to the credit file.2
Once one credit bureau is notified of a death, it notifies the other two.4
If someone applies for credit using the deceased person's information, the lender sees the deceased statement and knows the application is the result of identity theft.1
Not in Experian's published guidance1
- How long a claim takes
Sources4
Sources
Data sourced from Experian primary sources (11 pages reviewed). How we research.
Experian death claims support
Experian Consumer Assistance Center
Mailing address
Website
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Notice to Creditors
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