Cancelling Utilities and Accounts After Someone Dies

After someone dies, their bills keep coming. Some services must stay on while the house is cleared and sold; others should be cancelled quickly to stop charges and protect against identity theft. Doing it in the right order makes the estate cleanout easier.

Keep these on until the house is cleared or sold

• Electricity, for lights, the fridge, security systems and the cleanout crew's tools.
• Heat in cold months, to keep pipes from freezing.
• Water, which crews and cleaners need. Some estates set the thermostat low and shut off water only once the house is empty.
• Homeowners insurance. Tell the insurer the home is vacant; many policies limit coverage for vacant homes, and you may need a vacancy policy or endorsement.

Ask each utility to move the account into the estate's or executor's name rather than closing it.

Cancel or transfer soon

• Phone, internet and TV/streaming subscriptions, unless needed for security cameras.
• Newspaper, magazine and meal-delivery subscriptions.
• Gym memberships, clubs and recurring donations.
• Car insurance only once the car has been sold or transferred. See what to do with a deceased person's car.

Accounts that need more care

• Bank and credit card accounts: notify each institution. The executor handles what is owed from estate funds; family members are generally not personally responsible for the deceased's debts unless they co-signed or held a joint account.
• Credit bureaus: ask the three bureaus to flag the credit file as deceased to reduce identity theft risk.
• Social Security and pensions: the funeral home often notifies Social Security, but confirm it.
• Email, social media and cloud storage. Check each service for a deceased-user or legacy-contact process.

Documents you will need

Most companies ask for a death certificate (order several copies) and, for accounts in the deceased's name, proof of authority such as letters testamentary. Keep a log of every company you contact, the date, and a reference number.

See the full executor duties checklist and clearing a parent's home checklist.

Find an estate cleanout company near you.

This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice.