To prevent unwanted bills, cancel or transfer ownership of automatic payments the deceased may have had.

Also, ensure that all other outstanding payments have been made in order to avoid interest on overdue charges.

Recurring payments may include, but are not limited to:

• Mortgage


• Home loan / payments


• Car loan / payments


• Student loan


• Personal loans


• Alimony


• Child support


• School tuition


• Housekeeping


• Landscaping / gardener


• Home care


• Nursing care


• Storage unit


• Shopping Clubs (Costco, BJs, etc)

If the deceased rented a storage unit and it's still needed, ensure that payments continue; if not, and there is no claim of ownership, its contents could be sold at auction.

If the Executor of Estate, or Next of Kin cannot access the unit, a Death Certificate will be needed.

If there are any outstanding payments, do not pay them directly.

A surviving heir, Beneficiary or Executor of the Estate should not pay any bills or debt incurred by the deceased.

These bills should only be paid by the Executor of the Estate, using money from the Estate from an Estate Account, once Probate has concluded.

For more information about making final debt payments during Estate Settlement, review checklists within the Estate section.