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Who to notify when someone dies
A complete list of agencies, banks, and platforms to contact, in roughly the order they should hear from you. Each one with the document it needs and the typical turnaround.
After a death, notify the Social Security Administration, the employer, the three credit bureaus, the banks, the IRS, and the DMV — in roughly that order. Each takes a certified death certificate. Then handle USPS, DMAchoice, and digital platforms like Facebook, Google, and Apple. Most updates clear within thirty days.
Document map
| Death certificate (certified) | SSA, IRS, banks, brokerages, life insurance, pension, DMV, credit bureaus |
|---|---|
| Letters testamentary | Banks for sole-name accounts, brokerages, IRS for the estate return, real estate transfers |
| Small estate affidavit | Banks and DMV for estates below the state threshold |
| Just a written request | DMAchoice, USPS mail forwarding, most subscription cancellations |
The full sequence
Social Security Administration
Funeral home reports most deaths automatically. If not, call 1-800-772-1213. Surviving spouse may claim a $255 lump sum and monthly survivor benefits.
Employer and pension
Notify the HR department to stop direct deposit, claim final wages, and start any pension or life insurance death benefit through the plan.
Banks and brokerages
Joint accounts pass to the survivor with a death certificate. Sole accounts need letters testamentary or a small estate affidavit.
Three credit bureaus
Mail a death certificate to Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion separately to flag the file and stop pre-approved credit offers.
IRS and state revenue
File the final 1040, plus Form 1041 for any estate income. Request an EIN for the estate using Form SS-4.
DMV
Cancel the driver's license to prevent identity theft. Most state DMVs accept a one-page form and a death certificate.
USPS and DMAchoice
File a mail forwarding order and register the deceased with DMAchoice.org to stop most marketing mail within three months.
Digital and social platforms
Memorialize Facebook and Instagram, remove LinkedIn and X, and use Google Inactive Account Manager or Apple Legacy Contact if set up.
Common questions
Who must I notify first?
Social Security and the employer in the first week, then banks, the mortgage lender, and pension providers. The credit bureaus and DMV follow once you have certified death certificates.
How many death certificates do I need?
Ten to twelve is a reasonable baseline. Each major institution wants its own original certified copy.
How long does each agency take?
Social Security updates within a few business days. Credit bureaus apply the deceased flag within thirty days. Bank closures take from a single visit to several weeks depending on account type.
Is there one place to notify everyone?
No. Each agency and provider must be notified separately. A small estate affidavit or letters testamentary handle the financial side, but identity protection, mail, and digital platforms each need their own request.
Notification guides
Related: Probate · Vehicle titles · The main guide