Do I have to tell my mortgage company my husband died?

Asked by: Mrs. Odie Cronin  |  Last update: September 20, 2025
Score: 4.1/5 (47 votes)

When should you notify a lender about the borrower's death? Notify a mortgage lender of a death as soon as you can, even if you don't yet have a death certificate. By notifying the lender early, the lender can let you know what documents you need to acquire, expediting the process and avoiding mistakes.

What happens to my mortgage if my husband dies?

When spouses die, their estate typically becomes responsible for settling debts, including the mortgage. The estate's executor or administrator manages this process, which may involve selling assets or using other estate funds to pay off the mortgage.

What is the first thing you should do when your husband dies?

Gather together important documents: wills, mortgages, loans, bills. Order at least ten copies of the death certificate. Consult a lawyer if you can about the legal requirements for settling the estate, and, if you wrre married, to find out what your rights are as a widow or widower.

What happens if I don't notify the mortgage company of death?

If someone inherits the house, they can contact the lender about assuming a mortgage after death or refinancing it. Failing to communicate with the lender can lead to foreclosure if payments aren't made, which means the loss of the property. The situation can be even more complicated if someone passes without a will.

Why shouldn't you always tell your bank when someone dies?

If you contact the bank before consulting an attorney, you risk account freezes, which could severely delay auto-payments and direct deposits and most importantly mortgage payments. You should call Social Security right away to tell them about the death of your loved one.

Mortgage Minute: Taking Over a Mortgage When Your Loved One Dies

26 related questions found

Do banks automatically get notified when someone dies?

Family members or next of kin generally notify the bank when a client passes. It can also be someone who was appointed by a court to handle the deceased's financial affairs. There are also times when the bank learns of a client's passing through probate.

What not to do immediately after someone dies?

What Not to Do When Someone Dies: 10 Common Mistakes
  • Not Obtaining Multiple Copies of the Death Certificate.
  • 2- Delaying Notification of Death.
  • 3- Not Knowing About a Preplan for Funeral Expenses.
  • 4- Not Understanding the Crucial Role a Funeral Director Plays.
  • 5- Letting Others Pressure You Into Bad Decisions.

How long can a mortgage stay in a deceased person's name?

The general rule is that a mortgage may not stay in a deceased person's name.

Are mortgages forgiven upon death?

When you pass away, your mortgage doesn't suddenly disappear. Your mortgage lender still needs to be repaid and could foreclose on your home if that doesn't happen. In most cases, the responsibility of the mortgage will be passed to the beneficiary of the home if there is a will.

Do I need to take my deceased husband's name off my mortgage?

A: Removing a deceased spouse from the mortgage is not always necessary, but it can provide peace of mind and simplify future transactions. To remove your spouse's name, you may need to provide a death certificate to the mortgage company and refinance the mortgage in your name only.

Who gets the $250 social security death benefit?

Following the death of a worker beneficiary or other insured worker,1 Social Security makes a lump-sum death benefit payment of $255 to the eligible surviving spouse or, if there is no spouse, to eligible surviving dependent children.

When a spouse dies, who needs to be notified?

Report the person's death to banks, credit card companies, credit bureaus, and other financial organizations. And contact utilities and places where the person had memberships and subscriptions. Learn from the Federal Trade Commission what to do about any debts the person had.

What debts are not forgiven upon death?

Medical debt and hospital bills don't simply go away after death. In most states, they take priority in the probate process, meaning they usually are paid first, by selling off assets if need be.

Can a family member assume a mortgage after death?

Mortgage: Federal law requires lenders to allow family members to assume a mortgage if they inherit a property. However, there is no requirement that an inheritor must keep the mortgage. They can pay off the debt, refinance or sell the property.

Can I keep my house if my husband dies?

Community property with right of survivorship: A husband and wife or registered domestic partners jointly own property until one spouse/partner dies, at which point the surviving spouse/partner automatically absorbs the deceased spouse's/partner's ownership interest in the property.

Can a mortgage company call a loan if a spouse dies?

So, generally, if someone dies and another person inherits that property, the lender could call the entire loan due based on that transfer. However, federal law exempts certain types of transfers from loan acceleration.

When should you notify a mortgage company of death?

Notify a mortgage lender of a death as soon as you can, even if you don't yet have a death certificate. By notifying the lender early, the lender can let you know what documents you need to acquire, expediting the process and avoiding mistakes.

What happens if your husband dies and your name isn't on the house?

In many cases, the spouse can inherit your house even if their name was not on the deed. This is because of how the probate process works. When someone dies intestate, their surviving spouse is the first one who gets a chance to file a petition with the court that would initiate administration of the estate.

How long do you have to clear a house after someone dies?

There is no set time for when a house needs to be cleared. It is the responsibility of the deceased's family to ensure all items are removed from the property. Once this is done, the house can be sold, with the proceeds then being distributed to all designated heirs.

What happens if husband dies and wife is not on the mortgage?

You could stay on the current loan or you could qualify for a new mortgage. It's up to you. We suggest speaking with an attorney about how to go about notifying a bank that a spouse who was on the mortgage has passed.

Can a bank call in a mortgage when someone dies?

Germain Depository Institutions Act of 1982 prohibits the lender from calling the loan due under a due-on-sale clause after some transactions, like a transfer to a relative upon the borrower's death.

Is it illegal to keep utilities in a deceased person's name?

Yes, that is fraud. Someone should file a probate case on the deceased person.

What not to do when your husband dies?

10 things to cancel when someone dies
  1. Death Notification Service. ...
  2. Current and savings account. ...
  3. Joint bank accounts. ...
  4. Council tax. ...
  5. Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) ...
  6. Driving licence. ...
  7. Passport. ...
  8. Post.

Can I withdraw money from a deceased person's bank account?

An executor/administrator of an estate can only withdraw money from a deceased person's bank account if the account does not have a designated beneficiary or joint owner and is not being disposed of by the deceased person's trust.

Who notifies Social Security when someone dies?

Provide the deceased person's Social Security number to the funeral director so they can report the death to the SSA. Look up and contact your local Social Security office. Or call the SSA's main number at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) to make the report. SSA only accepts reports of death by phone or in person.