Identity Theft

Did you know you should protect your deceased loved one from identity theft?

A decedent is vulnerable to identity theft for several reasons, typically, the family is in mourning and not paying close attention to the decedent’s personal information or finances.

Identity theft protection steps:

Check the decedent’s mail – make sure the mail doesn’t stack up.  Dispose of all credit card applications and other unnecessary mail, such as store catalogs and sales ads, and retain all financial information in a secure location.

Secure the home – if the decedent lived alone, make sure the lawn is taken care of and lights are on periodically.  Also, gather all personal documents – driver’s licenses, social security cards, military records and medical records – anything that contains personal identification and keep them in a safe location.

Limit what goes in the obituary – consider using a middle initial instead of a full name, and don’t provide addresses or maiden names.

Notify credit reporting agencies – it can take as much as six months for all three credit reporting agencies to be notified of a death.  You should contact the credit bureaus as soon as possible after receiving death certificates.

While family members nor the estate would be held liable for charges incurred after death as a result of identity theft, protecting the identity of your loved one may save you time and anguish if it happens to you.