What is a deceased credit freeze?

What this usually means

Requesting that the credit bureaus suppress the deceased's credit file so no new accounts can be opened. Different from the living person credit freeze process — you send a death certificate and a letter requesting suppression. Contact each bureau separately. This is one of the most effective identity theft prevention steps.

What to do next

• Start the PathAfter checklist for situation-aware first steps.
• Find California county phone numbers for coroner, vital records, and local offices.
• Open the First 72 Hours Call Log before making calls.
• Open the Documents to Find Checklist when you are ready for paperwork.

Related questions

• How do identity thieves know when someone has died?
• What steps should I take to protect a deceased person's identity?
• What if I see fraudulent accounts opened in the deceased's name?
• What are Medicare fraud risks after a death?
• What if I get a tax refund check in the deceased's name?