Moving Utilities, Banks, and Deeds From Joint to Your Name Only

Almost every couple has bills, accounts, and titles set up in both names. When one spouse dies, these have to be changed over to the survivor only — but not all at once, and not in the first month. Spreading the work across 3 to 6 months keeps it from becoming a second crisis.

The order matters. Start with the things that get billed monthly and could lock you out if forgotten: electric, gas, water, internet, and cell phone. Call each one and say: my spouse passed away on (date), please update the account to my name only and remove the other name from the bill. Most utilities will do this over the phone in 10 to 15 minutes. They may ask for the date of death and the last 4 of the deceased's Social Security number. A certified death certificate is sometimes required, sometimes not.

Next are the banks. If you had joint accounts with right of survivorship (the most common type), the money is yours automatically. Bring a certified death certificate and your ID to the bank. And they will remove your spouse's name. Do not close the account in the first 60 days, because checks made out to your spouse may still arrive. And you need a way to deposit them.

Credit cards work differently. If the card was joint, you may keep using it as the surviving cardholder. If you were an authorized user (not a co-signer), the card legally closes when the primary cardholder dies. Call each card issuer and ask which category you fall in.

The deed to the house is the slowest piece. If the house was titled as joint tenants with right of survivorship or tenants by the entirety, you do not need to do anything to take ownership. It is yours automatically by law. You may want to file an affidavit of survivorship with the county recorder so the records show only your name, but it is not urgent. A real estate attorney can do this for $200 to $500.

(Sources: AARP — Settling an Estate; FTC — Notify Creditors When Someone Dies)