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Bills and Services to Cancel—and Keep—When a Loved One Dies

Posted by ANGELA RICH HARTMANN | Oct 02, 2024 | 0 Comments

A loved one's passing is challenging on many different levels. In addition to the emotional difficulty of processing someone's death, there are also the many tasks that must be dealt with, such as going through their various accounts and taking the necessary steps to cancel them or transfer ownership.

 

Most people subscribe to multiple digital services, including utilities, insurance, memberships, medical prescriptions, and other recurring payment programs. Setting up these accounts helps avoid unnecessary charges and protects against identity theft and fraud. If you are responsible for handling outstanding accounts, you will first want to identify which accounts your loved one held and then figure out what to do with them. Failure to cancel these accounts could result in continued charges, impacting the estate's finances. 

Deciding Whether to Cancel or Keep an Account

The first step is determining the deceased's accounts through their mail, email, or phone notifications. You may find a list of accounts as part of their estate plan, which can be a relief and a guide in this process. Once you have identified the accounts in the deceased's name, you can decide whether to cancel or keep them.

 

Subscription Services

Subscription services are low-hanging fruit. Unless the service has a shared family plan, it can most likely be canceled.

 

The typical American has five subscription services, and one in five has eight or more subscription services.[1] In addition to digital media services like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, YouTube TV, and Apple TV, delivery services like Amazon Prime, Walmart+, and subscription box services should not be forgotten.

 

Also, keep in mind that Amazon Prime and Walmart+ members may have recurring monthly deliveries for certain items. Digital subscriptions to newspapers and magazines may be linked to a Kindle account. Kindle Unlimited, which has 150 million subscribers, is another account that may need to be canceled.

 

Patronage Accounts

Independent content creators are a large contingent of the digital media ecosystem, and a growing number of services provide opportunities for “digital patronage,” or delivering direct, recurring support to online content creators. This modern support is convenient and beneficial for creators and patrons.

 

Platforms that enable digital patronage include Patreon, Twitch, Substack, YouTube, and Facebook. Outside of these platforms, creators may enable patronage, such as subscriber-only content, through their website.

 

You can check bank or credit card statements to determine if a loved one has subscriptions to their favorite content creators. Patronage accounts, like subscription services, are prime cancellation targets.

 

Utilities

Depending on the circumstances, utilities may need to be temporarily kept in the deceased's name, transferred to another account holder, or canceled.

 

        Keeping utilities in the deceased's name should be okay while the estate is resolved, but you might want to check with the utility company.

        If utilities were in the deceased's name and they lived with somebody else, the accounts should be transferred to that individual. The same goes for a family member who plans to take over occupancy or ownership. This process typically involves contacting the utility company and providing the necessary documentation, such as a death certificate and proof of relationship or ownership. For example, the house may have been gifted to a beneficiary in the will or established as family property with joint sibling ownership.

        Utility accounts can be canceled following estate administration, but consider the timing if the house is being put on the market. Typically, in the event of a sale, utilities are kept on until after closing.

        Although not technically a utility, a home security system deserves the same consideration as utilities. Security is essential for a home left vacant for extended periods while the estate is settled.

        It's essential not to rush to deactivate a loved one's cell phone service until you have retrieved all of the information you need from the phone. This can include notifications about bills and other services that need to be canceled or transferred. Taking the time to do this can prevent any oversights or missed notifications.

Miscellaneous Accounts  

Many accounts fit into the main buckets listed above, but it may take a thorough, sleuthing effort to uncover every account linked to a loved one's name. Here are some more examples of accounts you may need to resolve, either by canceling or, where possible, transferring account ownership:

        Memberships to gyms, sports clubs, cultural institutions, unions, homeowners associations, Costco, and other fee-based groups or services

        Physical newspapers, newsletters, and magazines

        Social media and dating sites

        Financial advisor, personal trainer, accountant, life coach, etc.

        Pet-related dues and subscriptions

        Meal delivery services

        Music subscriptions (Pandora, Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Sirius XM, etc.)

Probate, Estate Administration, and Executor Legal Assistance

As you deal with the emotional challenges of a family death, you may simultaneously navigate legal issues related to losing someone close to you. Being named an estate administrator or executor comes with a lot of responsibility. Our estate planning attorneys offer services tailored to executors that help them do right by their loved ones and the law. These services can include legal advice on account cancellations, estate distribution guidance, and probate assistance. For answers to your estate administration questions, reach out to our team. 

Contact Hartmann Law Today

If you have questions about what to do after a loved one dies, contact our office to speak to an estate planning attorney.

Take steps to start planning your Life and Legacy today!  Take action to ensure your voice is heard when you are unable to speak for yourself.  Decide to protect yourself, your loved ones, your business, and your property.   

Schedule a call today with Hartmann Law.

Hartmann Law provides life and legacy plans ready for today with an eye on the future.

YOUR CHOICES.  OUR GUIDANCE.

Life and Legacy Plans are created by design and not by default!

 

 



[1] John Glenday, US Subscription Fatigue Is Real, with Consumers Managing an Average of 5 Accounts, The Drum (Nov. 16, 2022), https://www.thedrum.com/news/2022/11/16/us-subscription-fatigue-real-with-consumers-managing-average-5-accounts.

About the Author

ANGELA RICH HARTMANN

Angela Rich Hartmann is a New Jersey attorney serving clients in the areas of estate, business, and real estate law.

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