What to do when a Freedom Mortgage account holder dies
Report the death to Freedom Mortgage's Successor in Interest / Deceased Borrower at 1-855-690-5900
Notifying Freedom Mortgage 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 Freedom Mortgage on notice as a creditor of the estate. The Successor in Interest / Deceased Borrower (1-855-690-5900) handles it.
Before contacting Freedom Mortgage, have the account holder's full name, date of birth, and any available account numbers ready.
Death claim process
The death claim process at Freedom Mortgage works as follows:
Filing a claim
- Request a payoff statement through the online account or by mail to P.O. Box 50485, Indianapolis, IN 46250-0401, then pay the balance from estate funds, life insurance, or a sale
- Assume financial responsibility for the loan and keep the home: call 855-690-5900 to review assumption options
- Apply for loss mitigation if payments are behind: download the Hardship Assistance Request from the online account (Help Center, then Forms) and email it to LossMitigation@FreedomMortgage.com
- Sell the property and pay the loan from the proceeds; where the balance is more than the property is worth, Freedom Mortgage runs a short-sale review
Required Documents
- Proof of identityA valid state ID, driver's license, or passport.
- Proof of the borrower's deathShowing the name and date of death: a death certificate, an obituary, a newspaper notice, or an affidavit declaring death.
- Proof of ownership interest in the propertyA deed of trust, mortgage, will, testament, affidavit, or court order.
- Warranty or gift deed, when the home was inherited from other heirsMay be required.
- Living trust documents, for an interest received through a living trustA recently recorded mortgage deed, the living trust agreement, a certificate of trust, and/or a trust declaration.
- Divorce decree or separation agreement, for an interest received through divorce or legal separationPlus a quit-claim deed or property settlement agreement.
- Death certificate, for a loan assumption after deathA copy of the deceased borrower's state-issued death certificate.
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration, for a loan assumption after deathA copy, from the probate court.
- Identification for the appointed administrator, executor, or personal representative, for a loan assumption after death
- Income and asset records, for a loan assumption applicationW-2s and 1040s for the past two years, asset statements for the past two months (checking, savings, 401(k), and other assets), and pay stubs from the past 30 days.
- Credit explanation letter, for a loan assumption application
Forms Freedom Mortgage issues3
What happens to each kind of account1
- Loan
Being confirmed as a successor in interest does not make a person liable for the mortgage or require them to make payments; that liability stays with the borrowers named on the mortgage. The property stays subject to the terms of the mortgage.2
A loan assumption is a separate application with credit, income, and financial requirements. Freedom Mortgage states a delinquent loan must in most cases be brought current before an assumption closes.2
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
What Freedom Mortgage provides to the estate1
- Payoff statement
A payoff quote is requested in the online account under Payoff Quote, choosing the reason and the payoff (good-through) date. A payoff statement fee may be charged depending on the state the property is in.1
Title companies, closing agents, attorneys, and other third parties settling the estate request payoff statements on the third-party payoff site.3
What Freedom Mortgage's agreement and guidance say2
- Who can get account information
Freedom Mortgage confirms a person's status as a successor in interest before releasing loan information.2
It recognizes a successor in interest who acquired an ownership interest through the death of a co-owner, inheritance from a family member, a transfer from a spouse or parent, divorce or legal separation, or a living trust. More than one person can be a successor in interest on the same home.2
- Fees
An assumption carries closing costs (assumption fee, credit report, flood certification, title fees, recording fees). They cannot be added to the loan balance because the loan terms cannot change.2
Freedom Mortgage responds to a successor-in-interest request within 30 days of receiving all the necessary documents.
Freedom Mortgage's Successor in Interest / Deceased Borrower can be reached by phone at 1-855-690-5900 and email at LossMitigation@FreedomMortgage.com for questions throughout the claims process.
Sources
Data sourced from Freedom Mortgage primary sources (10 pages reviewed). How we research.
Freedom Mortgage death claims support
Successor in Interest / Deceased Borrower (Freedom Mortgage)
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