Closing Credit Cards After a Death

Closing a deceased person's credit cards is a straightforward but important step in estate administration. Active credit accounts left open can accumulate fees, create identity theft opportunities, and complicate the estate's finances. Here's a complete guide to the process.

Before You Close: Identify All Cards

Start by finding all credit cards. Sources:

Physical wallet and any cards stored at home
Bank and credit card statements (paper and online)
Email inbox — search for "statement available," "minimum payment due," "account summary"
Credit reports from all three bureaus — these list all open credit accounts. Request the deceased's credit reports as the executor or next of kin through annualcreditreport.com

Authorized Users vs. Joint Account Holders

Before closing any card, determine whether you were an authorized user or a joint account holder — this affects both your liability and the process:

Authorized user: You are not liable for the balance. Stop using the card immediately. You cannot close the account yourself — only the primary account holder (the deceased) or their executor can close it.
Joint account holder: You are fully liable for the balance and remain so after the primary holder's death. You have authority to manage and close the account. See our article on joint credit card debt when a spouse dies.

Notifying the Card Issuer

Call the customer service number on the back of each card (or find it on the statement). When connected:

"I'm calling to report the death of the account holder, [name]. I'm their [relationship] and I'm handling the estate. I need to close this account. The date of death was [date]."

The representative will typically:

Put a "deceased" note on the account, freezing new charges
Provide their estates/bereavement address for the formal written notification
Inform you of the process for paying or disputing the balance

Follow up your phone call with a written notification mailed to the card issuer's estate/deceased accounts address, including a certified copy of the death certificate. This creates a documented paper trail.

Handling the Remaining Balance

Sole accounts

For sole credit card accounts (no joint holder), the balance becomes a debt of the estate — not your personal obligation. The credit card company must file a claim in probate during the creditor claim period to recover the balance from estate assets. If you are not personally liable, do not pay the balance with your personal funds.

Joint accounts

For joint accounts, the surviving joint holder is responsible for the full balance. Contact the issuer about bereavement hardship programs, which may include reduced interest rates or extended payment plans.

Reward Points and Miles

Credit card reward points, cash back, and travel miles are typically forfeited when an account is closed at death — they are generally not transferable and don't become estate assets. Some programs make exceptions; check the program's terms or call to inquire. If there is a significant balance, ask specifically whether they can be redeemed or transferred before the account is closed.

Authorized User Removal

If the deceased was an authorized user on your account (rather than you being an authorized user on theirs), you should contact your card issuer to remove the deceased as an authorized user. This is a simple administrative update.

Keep Records

For each card closed:

Note the card issuer, last four digits of the account, date closed, and final balance
Keep the written confirmation of closure
Note whether the issuer filed a probate claim and for how much

These records are important for the estate accounting, tax purposes, and to protect against any disputed charges that may arise after closure.

Monitoring the Credit Reports

After closing credit cards, monitor the deceased's credit reports over the following months to ensure:

Closed accounts are reflected as closed
No new accounts are being opened (sign of identity theft)
No fraudulent charges appear on the closed accounts

For broader identity theft protection, see our article on placing deceased alerts with credit bureaus. For the complete accounts management overview, see our managing accounts guide.