Steps to Protect Your Late Spouse From Identity Theft

Losing a spouse is a deeply emotional and challenging experience, and dealing with the aftermath can be overwhelming. Amid the grieving process and the various administrative tasks that follow, it's crucial not to overlook the potential risk of identity theft. Sadly, scammers target deceased individuals because there is often no one tracking their finances. In doing so, they target their surviving spouses, who are left cleaning up the mess. Below are some steps you can take to safeguard your late spouse's identity.

1)      Secure Personal Documents

Gather and secure all important personal documents, such as passports, Social Security cards, and driver's licenses. Store them in a safe place to prevent misuse by identity thieves.

2)      Notify the Social Security Administration

Contact SAA to report your spouse's passing and ask about survivor benefits or any other applicable benefits. This action helps protect against fraudulent claims. Often, the funeral home does this on your behalf.

3)      Notify Financial Institutions

Contact your spouse's banks, credit card companies, and other financial institutions to inform them of the death. Request that all accounts be flagged and monitored for any suspicious activity. This step helps prevent unauthorized access to your spouse's accounts.

4)      Notify Credit Reporting Agencies

Contact the three major credit reporting agencies—Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion—and request a "deceased alert" on your spouse's credit reports. This alert should prevent anyone from opening new lines of credit using your late spouse's information.

5)      Notify the DMV

Notify the DMV to cancel your spouse's driver's license and update their records. This will prevent anyone from using their identity for activities such as obtaining a fraudulent driver's license.

6)      Notify the State Department (if they had an active passport)

Notify the State Department so they can terminate their active passport.

7) Cancel Credit Cards

If your spouse had credit cards, cancel them promptly to prevent any further charges.

Protecting your deceased spouse from identity theft is a crucial responsibility during a difficult time. By following the steps mentioned above among others, you can significantly reduce the risk of identity theft.

Happy planning,

Alex

This blog post is not advice. Please read disclaimers.