How to Stop Receiving Mail Addressed to a Deceased Person

Keep in mind that opening someone else’s mail is a federal offense. Unless you are the deceased person’s legal representative, it is best to leave their mail sealed.

This mail tends to arrive in a few common situations:

• You are the Executor of the estate. Executors often have the Post Office forward the deceased person’s mail to their own address. This brings in the important mail you need to settle the estate, along with everything else. Once the estate is settled, the mail may keep coming.
• You shared a home with the deceased. Mail may continue to arrive at the address you lived at together.
• You bought a home from an estate. New owners sometimes receive mail meant for the previous owner.

Here are the steps you can take to reduce and eliminate the mail.

1. Register the deceased person on the Deceased Do Not Contact (DDNC) List administered by the Association of National Advertisers (ANA). Doing so will help remove the deceased person from commercial direct marketing lists and is a good step to take immediately. There is no fee to register a name. Even the US Postal Service recommends and links to the DDNC. All ANA members are required to remove names on this list from their mailing lists. In addition, many non-ANA members have access to and use the DDNC to remove names. Once the deceased is registered, mailings should begin to decrease within 90 days. Visit the Deceased Do Not Contact List to submit a request.
2. Request that the Post Office forward all of the person’s mail to another address. This can be helpful if you shared a home with the deceased and are not the Executor. It also helps Executors who need all of the person’s mail sent to them. Keep in mind the Post Office only honors forwarding requests for one year from the date the request was submitted.
3. Forward a single piece of mail to an appointed Executor by:
   • Neatly crossing out your address.
   • Printing “Forward to” and adding the new address on the envelope.
   • Leaving the envelope in your mailbox and letting your carrier pick it up. You can also drop it off at the Post Office.
4. Contact organizations directly. For subscriptions and mail from organizations the deceased person patronized while living, reach out to let them know of the death.
5. Write “Deceased, Return to Sender” on any mail addressed to the deceased person and leave it in your mailbox for return.
6. If you are the Executor of an estate that has been through probate court, contact the deceased person’s local Post Office. Send or deliver a copy of the probate order closing the estate and dismissing you as Executor. Ask that all mail service be stopped immediately. You may need to complete a formal request form.

Conclusion

Stopping unwanted mail is one small part of settling a loved one’s affairs. Insurance is another. Auto, home and life insurance policies may need to be updated, transferred and closed after a death. The Murphy Insurance Agency team is here to help you review existing coverage and answer questions with care and patience. Reach out to us anytime for guidance during this difficult time.