Checked against official SSA, IRS, USAGov and FTC pages on 2026-10-07. Rules change; the agency's or court's current instructions win.
USAGov's guidance is short: "Report the person's death to banks, credit card companies, credit bureaus, and other financial organizations. And contact utilities and places where the person had memberships and subscriptions." (USAGov). Here's a way to work through it without losing track.
Write down every account, bill and subscription you know of: bank and credit card statements and automatic payments are good places to look. Note the last 4 digits only.
USAGov: "You'll need the person's Social Security number and certified copies of their death certificate for most agencies and programs." Certified copies are needed for "Closing or transferring credit cards and bank accounts", but "You may only need a photocopy for other tasks, such as canceling a subscription." (USAGov). Ask each company which it needs.
If the person received Social Security by direct deposit, USAGov says to "notify the financial institution as soon as possible" and "Ask them to return the payment for the month the recipient died and any that arrived later." (USAGov).
Ask who it can deal with, what it needs to close or transfer the account, and for a reference number. Log the call. A short written notice helps when a company asks for one.
The FTC: "By law, family members usually don't have to pay the debts of a deceased relative from their own money." It adds: "But there are exceptions to this rule." and "If you have questions about whether you're legally required to pay a deceased person's debts from your own money, talk to a lawyer." (FTC).
The kit includes an accounts and property list, a bills and recurring charges tracker, an online accounts list and a plain notification letter, in PDF and Word.
Get the Executor's Checklist (PDF + Word), $14
Instant download. 14-day no-questions refund. Edition 1.0, dated 2026-10-07. For use in any state; state court rules you look up on your state's own page.