Practical and immediate
How do I deal with identity theft after a death?
Short answer
Place a deceased alert with all three credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion). Send each a copy of the death certificate. Cancel government IDs. Monitor credit reports for 12 months after death. Identity theft of deceased people is common.
What this usually means
Place a deceased alert with all three credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion). Send each a copy of the death certificate. Cancel government IDs. Monitor credit reports for 12 months after death. Identity theft of deceased people is common.
What to do next
- Start the PathAfter checklist for situation-aware first steps.
- Find California county help for coroner contacts, vital records, cost tools, and paperwork.
- Open the First 72 Hours Call Log before making calls.
- Open the Documents to Find Checklist when you are ready for paperwork.