[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/www.amorusolaw.com\/blog\/how-does-an-executor-obtain-a-credit-report-for-a-decedent-greenwich-ct-new-york-ny\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.amorusolaw.com\/blog\/how-does-an-executor-obtain-a-credit-report-for-a-decedent-greenwich-ct-new-york-ny\/","headline":"How Does an Executor Obtain a Credit Report for a Decedent?","name":"How Does an Executor Obtain a Credit Report for a Decedent?","description":"\u201cWhile it\u2019s not something many people think about until faced with the issue, obtaining a credit report for a deceased person is important. You may need to make sure the credit report is accurate and take stock of any creditors you need to notify of the death or see if there\u2019s any unresolved debt that […]","datePublished":"2019-09-27","dateModified":"2024-04-02","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.amorusolaw.com\/blog\/author\/amorusolaw\/#Person","name":"Amoruso & Amoruso LLP","url":"https:\/\/www.amorusolaw.com\/blog\/author\/amorusolaw\/","identifier":5,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/12de032c04195e9c39a06a6d6eea182f7b4fa655c20e245f8094a244b5cdd0cb?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/12de032c04195e9c39a06a6d6eea182f7b4fa655c20e245f8094a244b5cdd0cb?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Amoruso & Amoruso LLP","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.amorusolaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/amoruso-logo.svg","url":"https:\/\/www.amorusolaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/amoruso-logo.svg","width":0,"height":0}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.amorusolaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/6a01901dd0a082970b0240a4d67037.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.amorusolaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/6a01901dd0a082970b0240a4d67037.jpg","height":600,"width":395},"url":"https:\/\/www.amorusolaw.com\/blog\/how-does-an-executor-obtain-a-credit-report-for-a-decedent-greenwich-ct-new-york-ny\/","about":["Decedent","Estate Planning","Executor","Identity Theft"],"wordCount":597,"keywords":["Decedent","Estate Planning","Executor","Identity Theft"],"articleBody":"\u201cWhile it\u2019s not something many people think about until faced with the issue, obtaining a credit report for a deceased person is important. You may need to make sure the credit report is accurate and take stock of any creditors you need to notify of the death or see if there\u2019s any unresolved debt that you\u2019re not aware of.\u201dObtaining the credit report for a decedent is important to protect their assets before any criminals target them for identity theft and credit card fraud, advises credit.com in the article “Dealing with a Credit Report for the Deceased“. Speed is of the essence for this estate task.In most cases, the only person who is the subject of the credit report should have access to it. However, there are times when you need to pull someone else\u2019s report, such as when a loved one dies. Other instances are when an employer is checking on a potential employee\u2019s credit, or when a landlord wants to know more about a tenant.To obtain a living person\u2019s credit report, you must have permission. Permission can be granted on a rental or job application. You\u2019ll also need their Social Security number, name and date of birth.For someone who has passed, it is recommended that you notify the three credit bureaus as soon as possible after a death to make sure the account is marked as \u201cdeceased,\u201d so no one can open a credit card account in the person\u2019s name.If you are the executor and you need to obtain a credit report of a person who has passed, here\u2019s what you will need to do to protect their legacy and obtain their credit report. First, you\u2019ll need certain documents:Proof that you have been named executor of the estate in the form of Testamentary letters from the probate courtProof of your own identityAn official copy of the death certificateYou should get several copies of each of these documents, since you will also need them for other aspects of the estate.Before you can obtain the credit report, the will needs to be filed with the probate court so that Letters Testamentary can be issued naming you as executor. Your estate planning attorney can do this for you, as part of settling the estate. Once all the documents are in order, you\u2019ll need to report the death and contact the three bureaus: Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax. You\u2019ll also want a cover letter explaining that the person has passed and that you need the reports to settle the estate.The letter should include the decedent\u2019s name, their last known address and their Social Security number. There may be a fee, depending on the company\u2019s policies.Review the report thoroughly and check for any inaccuracies. Make note of any open accounts that need to be paid with the estate or notified of the death. Debts are not all cleared when a person dies, so you\u2019ll want to know what needs to be taken care of. Look for anything suspicious. It could be a sign of theft or fraud.The last step is to notify the credit bureaus, outstanding creditors and the Social Security Administration of the person\u2019s death. Once proper notification has taken place, the bureaus will mark the credit record as being deceased. No further credit will be extended in the person\u2019s name and no additional accounts can be opened.Reference: credit.com (Aug. 27, 2019) “Dealing with a Credit Report for the Deceased“"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/www.amorusolaw.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"How Does an Executor Obtain a Credit Report for a Decedent?","item":"https:\/\/www.amorusolaw.com\/blog\/how-does-an-executor-obtain-a-credit-report-for-a-decedent-greenwich-ct-new-york-ny\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]