Closing accounts and notifying institutions
Aftercare · 7 min read
Who to notify, in what order, and how many copies of the death certificate you need.
Order 10 to 12 certified copies
Most institutions keep the copy they are given. Ten to twelve covers banks, insurers, pensions, the DMV and property transfers.
First week
Social Security, the employer or pension plan, life insurers, and the primary bank. Ask each one for a written confirmation.
First month
Credit bureaus, utilities, mortgage or landlord, vehicle titles, subscriptions, and email or social accounts with legacy settings.
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