Many clients ask how to close accounts for their loved ones, so we created this free guide and Form Letter Generator tool to help anyone who has lost someone dear. The right time to begin will be after you have recieved the certified copies of the death certificate. A printer-friendly version can be found on our Downloads page.
Please take your time with this list and seek help from trusted family or friends when you need it.
| To-Do | Instructions | Contact | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obtain Death Certificates | Your funeral director will notify you as soon as certificates are available—typically 1-2 weeks after the passing. Additional certified copies can be ordered through your funeral home or county health department. |
Your Funeral Home |
|
| Permanent Monument | Contact a Monument Specialist at Snyder Funeral Homes to order a burial site marker or monument for your loved one. |
Your Funeral Home |
|
| Funeral Planning* | Consider preplanning for your own funeral, burial, or cremation. Fill out and sign all documents in advance. |
Your Funeral Home |
|
| Life Insurance | Contact life insurance companies. Ask for claim forms, the value of the policy, and if they need a certified death certificate or just a photocopy. | Your Insurance Company — if unknown, use the NAIC to search for policies. | |
| Health Insurance | File claims and notify them of the death. | Your Loved One's Health Insurance Company | |
| Other Insurance | Notify home, business, and auto insurance companies. | Your Loved One's Insurance Company | |
| Social Security | Your funeral director will have already notified SSA to stop automatic monthly deposits. Discuss ongoing benefits for a surviving spouse or dependant children. | SSA.gov 1-800-772-1213 | |
| Veteran's Administration | Inquire about benefits if your loved one was a veteran. | VA.gov 1-800-827-1000 | |
| Consult with an Attorney | Discuss probating the will and legal filings. | Your Attorney | |
| Update Your Own Will or Living Trust* | Update documents as needed. | Your Attorney | |
| Transfer Assets | Transfer assets into your name or trust. | Your Attorney | |
| Update Beneficiaries* | Update beneficiaries for your own policies and accounts—especially if your beneficiary was your loved one who passed. |
Your Insurance Company |
|
| Notify Tax Authorities | File a final tax return and notify federal and state tax authorities. If your income will drastically change consider discussing future tax implications with your tax preparer or financial planner. | Your Loved One's Accountant or IRS.gov 1-800-829-1040 | |
| Contact Financial Planner* | Discuss updating your financial plan. | Your Financial Planner | |
| Revise Titles on Vehicles and Other Property | Update titles for vehicles and property. | Ohio BMV (614) 752-7671 | |
| Redirect Mail | Set up mail forwarding with the post office if you did not live with your loved one. | USPS.com 1-800-275-8777 | |
| Close Bank Accounts | Close accounts and transfer remaining funds. | Your Loved One's Bank | |
| Cancel Credit Cards | Cancel cards and transfer accrued points or rewards. | American Express 1-800-266-7064 Chase 1-866-926-6909 | |
| Close Other Financial Accounts | Close accounts like investments for example an Edward Jones account or an online high-yield savings account. | Your Loved One's Various Accounts | |
| Notify Mortgage Company, Landlord, or Assisted Living Facility | Notify and make any necessary arrangements. End lease or rental agreements. | Your Loved One's Lendor/Landlord | |
| Notify Utility Companies | Cancel or transfer utility services. | Your Loved One's Utility Provider(s) | |
| Cancel Memberships and Subscriptions | Cancel memberships and subscriptions. Review financial records, email, and physical mail, for recurring charges. Use the Form Letter Generator at the bottom of the page to help you. | Amazon Prime: account-close-deceased@amazon.com Apple: 1-800-692-7743 Hulu: 888-755-7907 Netflix: legal@netflix.com Pandora: pandora-support@pandora.com Spotify: support@spotify.com | |
| Cancel Email and Social Media Accounts* | Delete or memorialize accounts. | Facebook: Memorialization Request Google: Submit a Request Instagram: Memorialization Request LinkedIn: Submit a Request Twitter: Submit a Request | |
| Notify Board of Elections* | Contact the local election office to cancel the person’s voter registration. This helps prevent voter fraud. | Notice of Death of Registered Voter Form 255-D | |
| Inform Employer | Contact the deceased's employer for benefits and payroll. Consider reaching out to former employers about any unclaimed pension benefits. | Your Loved One's Employer(s) | |
| Close Online Accounts* | Close accounts like Amazon, PayPal, etc. | N/A | |
| Unclaimed Property* | Check state databases for any unclaimed property that belonged to your loved one. | Unclaimed.org | |
| Cancel Driver’s License* | Contact the DMV to cancel the license by mailing a photocopy of the death certificate (especially if you cannot find the card) or do nothing and allow the license to expire. | Ohio BMV, Attn: Records Division, P.O. Box 16520, Columbus, OH 43216-6520 | |
| Opt-out of Marketing Lists* | Opt-out using DMAchoice; recommended by USPS. | DMAchoice.org | |
| Notify Credit Bureaus* | Report death to further prevent identity theft. | Equifax.com 1-888-548-7878 Experian.com 1-888-397-3742 Transunion.com 1-800-916-8800 |
This page is not a substitute for qualified legal or financial counsel. Items marked with an asterisk (*) only need accomplished if it would give you peace of mind. Help us keep this list up-to-date, report inaccuracies to hannah@snyderfuneralhomes.com
Form Letter Generator
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