Getting a deceased person's credit report from Equifax

Can an executor get a deceased person's credit report from Equifax?

Yes. Equifax will provide a deceased person's credit report to an executor or personal representative who submits proof of death and proof of authority by mail.

You cannot order it online or by phone the way you would your own report. The Fair Credit Reporting Act permits disclosure to someone with a permissible purpose, and administering an estate qualifies — but the bureaus require documentation.

Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion each maintain their own files and their own request procedures. A report from one bureau will not show accounts reported only to another, so many executors eventually request all three.

What documents does Equifax require?

Equifax typically requires a copy of the death certificate, a copy of your letters testamentary or letters of administration (the court document that names you executor), and a signed request letter that includes the deceased person's full name, Social Security number, date of birth, and last known address.

Some executors also include a copy of their own driver's license. If you were appointed in formal probate, your letters are usually sufficient proof of authority. If the estate is small and you're using a small-estate affidavit, include that instead.

Mail everything together to the address Equifax publishes for deceased-consumer requests. As of this writing, that address appears on Equifax's consumer-assistance pages, but it can change — check Equifax.com or call their consumer line to confirm the current mailing address before you send.

• Certified copy of the death certificate
• Letters testamentary, letters of administration, or small-estate affidavit
• Signed letter with decedent's name, SSN, date of birth, and last address
• Copy of your government-issued ID (recommended)

You cannot order a deceased person's credit report online — Equifax requires proof of death and authority by mail.

Why would an executor need a credit report?

A credit report can reveal open credit cards, installment loans, mortgages, and collection accounts you might not find in the deceased person's papers.

It also shows recent credit inquiries, which can flag accounts opened shortly before death, and it may list current addresses on file, which can help if you're trying to confirm whether an account is still active.

Pulling reports from all three bureaus early — often in the same week you're ordering death certificates — gives you a more complete picture before you begin formal creditor notice. It is not a substitute for the legal notice process, but it is a practical cross-check.

How long does it take to receive the report?

Equifax generally processes deceased-consumer requests within two to four weeks of receiving complete documentation.

If something is missing — a signature, a legible Social Security number, or a court document — they will mail a letter asking for the missing piece, which adds time.

There is no fee for a deceased person's credit report. If Equifax does not respond within 30 days, follow up by phone and reference the date you mailed your request.

What should you do once you have the report?

Review the report for accounts you recognize and accounts you don't. Cross-reference it against bank statements, tax returns, and mail.

If you spot unfamiliar accounts or inquiries that post-date the death, that may signal identity theft or fraud. You can notify the credit bureaus and request a deceased alert, which helps prevent new accounts from being opened in the decedent's name.

Use the report as a working list, not the final word. Some debts — medical bills, utilities, local taxes — may not appear on credit reports at all. Your attorney or the probate court's self-help resources can walk you through the full creditor-notice process, which is governed by state probate law.

Do you need reports from Experian and TransUnion, too?

It depends on how thoroughly you want to search, but requesting all three is common practice among executors and estate attorneys.

Each bureau maintains its own database. A credit card reported to Experian may not appear on the Equifax file, and vice versa. The request process is similar for all three: mail, certified documents, no fee.

If the estate is very small, the person lived simply, and you've already found all the accounts through mail and bank records, you may not need all three. But when in doubt, order them — the cost is your time and a stamp, and the insight can be significant.