Closing Accounts for a Deceased Relative

When a relative dies, you and your other family members will have a lot on your hands even as you come to terms with your loss. Indeed, the service at the Charleston, WV funeral home won’t mark the end of things as far as tying up loose ends is concerned. This is particularly the case as it relates to closing your deceased relative’s accounts.

Here’s a rundown of what you need to know about closing accounts so that you get the job done without too much delay. One note of caution, however, is that you will most likely need the death certificate of your deceased loved one before you’ll be able to get the accounts deactivated.

Phone Service

You probably know your deceased relative’s phone company. Phone them up, provide them with your deceased loved one’s full name, their social security number, and their phone number.

Credit Cards

This one can be tricky if there’s a balance owing on any of the cards. The reason for this is that you won’t be able to close a credit card account until there’s a zero balance. After the balance is paid off in full and you contact the credit card issuer, give them your deceased loved one’s name, social security number, and contact number.

Subscriptions

Did your deceased relative have a lot of subscriptions to magazines or newspapers? Did they have memberships to gyms or clubs? You’ll want to cancel these subscriptions and memberships. Call up the relevant parties and provide them with the account number and any other information they request.

Social Media

It seems as though everyone is on social media these days — and if they’re not, they likely have at least one email address. Some social media and email platforms simplify the process of canceling another’s account by allowing people to add whomever they want to their account. This makes it easy for someone to deactivate another person’s account at the appointed time. You may want to make similar arrangements with someone you trust sooner rather than later.

Utilities

Whether gas, electricity, telephone, or something else, you will need to close utilities accounts on behalf of your deceased relative. Contact the utilities companies, and provide them with the relevant name and account number. You’ll make the process easier on yourself if you locate copies of their most recent utilities bills before calling the respective utilities companies.

Indeed, there will be lots of loose ends to tie up after the service at a Charleston, WV funeral home. But knowing how to go about things is bound to make the process more manageable. When it comes to planning a funeral or cremation, get in touch with us at Barlow Bonsall Funeral Home & Crematorium. Our objective is to help people to plan the right final send-off for their deceased loved ones. You can count on our professionalism, compassion, and experience.

Call us at (304) 342-8135 to learn more about what we can do to help you plan final services. You can visit us at 1118 Virginia St E Charleston, WV 25301.