 TITLE: What Happens to Your Credit File When You Die? CONTENT: Where Does Your Credit File Go When You Die?\n--------------------------------------------\nAfter you die, your Experian credit file will eventually be closed, but it doesn't happen immediately. There are several ways the credit bureaus may be notified of your death:\n*   **By lenders**: When you pass away, your spouse or the executor of your estate should alert your creditors of your death. The next time the creditor updates your accounts with the credit bureaus, they will also report that you are deceased. (If you have joint accounts with your spouse, it's important the creditor is told that only one account holder has died, or your spouse may be mistakenly reported as deceased.)\n*   **By the Social Security Administration (SSA)**: The SSA periodically sends a list of the newly deceased to the three major consumer credit reporting agencies: Experian, TransUnion and Equifax. This file isn't comprehensive, however; it only includes people who were receiving Social Security benefits and whose deaths have been reported to the SSA. Typically, the funeral home will report your death to the SSA. Your spouse or estate executor can also choose to notify the SSA themselves by calling 800-772-1213 or going to the local SSA office in person.\n*   **By your spouse or estate executor**: Your spouse or your estate's executor may want to notify the credit bureaus of your death themselves. This can be faster than waiting for the SSA or lenders to do it. When the death is reported to one credit bureau, they will alert the others.\nOnce a credit bureau is notified that you've died, they'll flag your credit file with an indicator that you are deceased, which helps to prevent fraud. If anyone tries to apply for new credit in your name, lenders will be alerted that you are deceased so they know the applicant is trying to steal your identity and can take appropriate measures.\nYour credit file will not be closed or deleted right away. Leaving the file open with the deceased indicator flag on it is an important tool that can help prevent identity theft. If your credit file were deleted and someone applied for credit in your name, a credit check wouldn't reveal any information. With no way of knowing that the applicant was trying to commit identity theft, the lender might issue the thief credit in your name.\nAny credit accounts showing the deceased indicator will be deleted after seven years. Over time, all your accounts will be deleted and the credit report will no longer exist. END