Notify the credit bureaus after a death
Report a death to all three credit bureaus for free, and stop identity theft before it starts.
Why notify the credit bureaus after a death
A deceased person's identity is a prime target for fraud. Until the credit bureaus are notified, criminals can open new credit cards, take out loans, or file fake tax returns in your loved one's name, and the family is often the one left to clean it up.
Prevent fraud and identity theft
When Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion flag a file as deceased, the credit report is locked so no new accounts can be opened by creditors who rely on the bureaus for verification and underwriting. The bureaus also share the death notice with creditors who have an open file on the deceased to encourage them to freeze accounts to prevent fraud.
Notifying one bureau does not notify the others. Each maintains its own records, so a fraudster blocked at one can still open credit through another. To fully close the door, all three have to be notified.
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credit bureaus notified
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simple form to help prevent identity theft
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Sunset is 100% free for families.
Deceased Notification Form
Sunset notifies all three credit bureaus, Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion, that your loved one has died. We mail each one a formal notice with a copy of the death certificate, which flags the credit file so no one can open new accounts in their name. There is no cost, and you only need to fill this out once.
Surprising Finds
"I found all of my grandma’s accounts in just a couple days, including one we didn’t even know about. I cried when I realized how much work it was going to take, but Sunset made it quick and easy."
Easy Process
"Step by step made it easy to get things done without feeling buried."
Stress Free
"Simple and stress free from start to finish. Even the life insurance claim."
Step by Step
"I did things when I had time. First the bank account, then the car title a few weeks later. It felt manageable."
Guided the Whole Way
"They made a hard process simple and stress free. It felt like they were walking me through step by step."
Peace of Mind
"Nothing happened unless I said so. Knowing my dad’s retirement money was safe until I was ready gave me peace of mind."
Clear Next Steps
"Clear steps, no stress. I always knew what came next, even for life insurance and car titles."
Felt Cared For
"I felt cared for the whole way. Even when we had to handle my dad’s small business account."
Felt Protected
"I felt safe the whole time. They kept an eye on things for fraud so I could focus on selling the house and being with my kids."
Less Scary
"They made the hard parts less scary. I just answered a few questions and felt guided."
Made It Doable
"Made something complicated, like probate papers, feel doable and not so scary."
How Sunset notifies the credit bureaus
We've made this as simple as possible. Fill out the form below with your loved one's information, and Sunset generates a formal death-notification letter to each of the three credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — and mails them on your behalf.
The credit bureaus don't offer an electronic or API-based way to report a death, a mailed letter is the official channel they accept for a deceased notice. Sunset handles that step for you, the right way, so the notice actually gets processed.
Tell us about your loved one
Enter a few details — name, date of death, and the documentation the bureaus require. It takes just a few minutes.
We prepare the letters & mail them
Sunset generates a properly formatted notice for each bureau, with everything they need to flag the file as deceased and lock the credit report. The letters go out by mail to all three bureaus, so you don't have to track down addresses or mail anything yourself.
Credit Bureau Notification FAQs
How do I notify the credit bureaus of a death?
Send each bureau — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — a written death notice with a copy of the death certificate and proof you're authorized to act on the deceased's behalf. Sunset prepares and mails a formal notice to all three for you, free.
Do I need to notify all three credit bureaus?
Yes. Each bureau keeps a separate credit file, so notifying one does not notify the others. To fully protect your loved one's identity, all three must receive their own notice. Sunset handles all three at once.
Can I report a death to the credit bureaus online?
The credit bureaus don't offer an online or API-based way to report a death — a mailed letter is the official channel. Sunset lets you submit the details online and then mails the notices to all three bureaus for you.
How do I get a deceased person's credit report?
As a spouse or legally authorized representative, you can request a copy from each bureau by mail, along with proof of death and your authority to act. Reviewing it helps you find open accounts and watch for fraud. Sunset users get the list of open debts for free.
What documents do the credit bureaus need to report a death?
Each bureau generally requires the death certificate, and the deceased's details (full name, address, Social Security number, and date of death).
Why should I notify the credit bureaus after someone dies?
It places a deceased notice on the credit file and locks it, so no new credit can be opened in their name — the single most effective step to prevent identity theft.
Is there a cost to notify the credit bureaus through Sunset?
No. Notifying the credit bureaus through Sunset is completely free, like everything Sunset does for families settling an estate.
How do I notify Experian of a death?
Mail a death notice to Experian at P.O. Box 4500, Allen, TX 75013, including the death certificate and your authorization to act on the deceased's behalf.
How do I notify Equifax of a death?
Mail a death notice to Equifax at P.O. Box 105139, Atlanta, GA 30348-5139, with the death certificate and proof you're authorized to act for the deceased.
How do I notify TransUnion of a death?
Mail a death notice to TransUnion at P.O. Box 2000, Chester, PA 19016, including the death certificate and your authorization.
Frequently asked questions
What is Sunset?
Sunset is an estate settlement platform that helps families discover and close the financial accounts, assets, and debts of a deceased loved one.
Sunset Free is designed for family members, executors, and personal representatives who are settling an estate themselves. It includes the full Sunset closure suite: financial account discovery, bank notifications, assisted phone calls and emails, estate bank account setup, probate document generation, and asset transfers all at no cost.
Sunset Pro is designed for probate attorneys, licensed fiduciaries, trustees, and aftercare specialists who settle estates on behalf of their clients. Sunset Pro starts at $500 per asset search, with monthly subscription plans available for solo practitioners, small firms, and large firms.
Both Sunset Free and Sunset Pro are available in all 50 states and U.S. territories.
Who can use Sunset?
Sunset can be used by family members, executors, administrators, and personal representatives responsible for settling a deceased person's estate.
Sunset supports asset discovery and probate across all 50 states and every U.S. county, helping you manage the estate regardless of where your loved one lived or where the estate is being settled.
How does Sunset help settle an estate?
Sunset handles the most time-consuming parts of estate settlement.
We search 2,500+ financial institutions like banks and retirement funds, the credit bureaus, and state unclaimed-property databases to find accounts and assets the family may not know about. We prepare probate documents specific to your county in all 50 states and help establish an estate bank account where recovered funds can be deposited.
Then Sunset helps close the deceased person’s accounts and move the funds into the estate account, ready for distribution to the heirs.
With Sunset, about 90% of account closures can be completed without you having to call or visit a branch.
What does it mean to settle an estate?
Settling an estate means closing out someone’s financial life after they die.
It involves identifying what they owned and owed, obtaining the legal authority to act on their behalf, paying valid debts and final taxes, and transferring what remains to the people who inherit it.
Depending on the state and the size of the estate, it can be complicated or simple, either way Sunset can help.
What is required to settle an estate?
Most estates require a core set of documents and accounts, including a certified death certificate, legal authority to act for the estate, a federal EIN, an estate bank account, and an inventory of the estate’s assets and debts.
Sunset can help with all of these except the death certificate!
Depending on the circumstances, legal authority may come in the form of letters testamentary, letters of administration, or a small-estate affidavit.
Once that authority is established, the estate can begin notifying financial institutions, paying valid debts and final taxes, and distributing the remaining assets to the heirs or beneficiaries.
Sunset prepares the paperwork required for these steps and submits what we can on your behalf.
