Go to your local Post Office and request – sometimes called a Deceased Do-Not-Forward order . Steps:
This guide outlines the specific steps required to handle address changes with the USPS, the IRS, and other essential organizations. 1. How to Forward Mail with the USPS
While not the only document needed, it provides necessary context for the clerk. Steps at the Post Office: Request PS Form 3575 (the standard Change of Address form). Indicate that the request is for a deceased individual.
For any lingering mail, write "Deceased—Return to Sender" on the envelope and return it to the mail carrier. Estimated Duration USPS Forwarding Typically lasts 12 months Marketing Lists Takes 30–90 days to see a reduction Subscription Refunds Varies; usually immediate upon notice change of address for deceased person
✅ This is the only official “change of address” for a deceased person.
Why does this paperwork matter? Because a deceased person is the perfect target for identity theft.
Use OptOutPrescreen to stop pre-approved credit card and insurance offers, which are high-risk for identity theft. Step 3: Notify Government Agencies & Organizations Go to your local Post Office and request
The mail can be forwarded for up to , giving you time to contact individual senders.
When a loved one passes away, the world keeps spinning—and so does the postal service. While the family is mourning, the mail carrier continues to deliver credit card offers, subscription magazines, and bank statements to a doorstep that no longer has an owner.
Changing the address for a deceased person is a solemn task that carries significant legal and financial weight. It is often overlooked in the initial stages of grief, yet failing to do so can lead to identity theft, missed inheritance checks, and legal complications. How to Forward Mail with the USPS While
If you are handling affairs in the UK, you can use the Royal Mail Redirection service for special circumstances. Step 4: Final Closure Once the estate is fully settled and probate is closed:
This is the standard USPS Change of Address Form . Indicate that the request is for a deceased individual.
Standard mail forwarding only redirects mail; it doesn't stop it from being generated. To reduce the volume of junk mail, use the following services: