What is what to do with mail when someone dies?

When someone passes away, handling their mail is an important task in settling their affairs. Here's what you generally need to do:

• Immediate Steps:

  • Stop the Mail (Temporarily): The first step is to prevent identity theft and reduce clutter. You can do this by contacting the local post office and requesting to temporarily suspend mail delivery. You can ask them to hold the mail at the post office for a short period.
  • Change of Address/Mail Forwarding: For more long-term management, consider filing a formal change-of-address request with the USPS. You can have the deceased's mail forwarded to the executor or administrator of the estate, or to another designated address. This ensures important documents and information reach the correct person.

• Contacting the Post Office:

  • When you contact the post office, be prepared to provide a copy of the death certificate and documentation proving you are the executor or administrator of the estate (e.g., letters of testamentary or letters of administration).

• Handling the Mail:

  • Review and Organize: Go through the forwarded mail carefully. Categorize it into bills, bank statements, legal documents, personal correspondence, and junk mail.
  • Notify Relevant Parties: Contact businesses, banks, insurance companies, and other organizations that were sending mail to the deceased. Inform them of the death and provide necessary documentation. Ask them to update their records and stop sending further mail, or transfer the accounts.
  • Cancel Subscriptions: Cancel any magazine subscriptions, newspapers, or other recurring mail deliveries.

• Dealing with Specific Types of Mail:

  • Government Benefits: Notify the Social Security Administration (SSA), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and any other government agencies that were providing benefits to the deceased. There are specific procedures for handling these situations.
  • Debt Collection: Forward any debt collection notices to the executor of the estate. They are responsible for handling debts and paying any outstanding bills from the estate's assets.

• Stopping Junk Mail:

  • To reduce junk mail, consider registering the deceased's name with the Direct Marketing Association (DMA) Mail Preference Service's deceased do-not-contact list. This can significantly reduce the amount of unsolicited mail received.

Here are some important subjects as links:

• Death Certificate
• Executor of Estate
• Change of Address
• Social Security Administration