When a loved one has passed away, an over-full mailbox can draw undesired attention at their residence. You may find yourself serving as the representative of the deceased person’s estate. You will be responsible for many things, both large and small. Between handling final financial affairs and closing out the estate, the incoming mail for a deceased person’s estate can easily be forgotten about. The mail never stops, and it is always on the move 365 days a year. Action must be taken to resolve the problem. A quick conversation with the post office will begin the process of forwarding mail. They will require proof that you are the legal representative of the estate to begin the forwarding process. However, you will not want all of the excess mail coming to your address, and a forwarding service only extends for one calendar year.
Important items will come in the mail like bills, statements, and refunds. Unfortunately, along with the important stuff comes unnecessary junk like flyers, catalogs, coupons, and advertisements. How do you cease the mail deliveries?
Solutions
If the estate is officially closed by completing the probate court process, you can make a formal request with the post office to stop all mail delivery immediately. Mail will continue to be delivered years after a person’s death if this step is not completed. The Postal Service will require a copy of the probate order showing closure of the estate.
Commercial marketing lists require a different and more direct approach. This is where all the junk mail originates from. There are websites available that specifically serve “do not contact” orders, especially for the deceased. According to the US Postal Service, the Direct Marketing Association maintains a “Deceased Do Not Contact” list. The website is www.DMA.org. Once the deceased person’s information has been recorded on the site, the incoming junk mail amount should decrease in approximately three months.
The rule of the “do not contact” site does not apply to all mail. It is not considered junk mail if the deceased individual made donations to charities or political affiliations, or had subscriptions to various periodicals. These groups must be contacted directly to cease all mailings. On occasion, some publishers will issue a refund for the remaining subscription.
Out of frustration, you may be tempted to toss the mail in the trash. Never throw the mail away. When all else fails, you can simply write “Deceased, Return to Sender” on the mail. Then just put the mail back in the mailbox, and the letter carrier will pick it up. This practice is also useful if you have purchased a property from an estate of a deceased person. In addition, you can leave a note in the mailbox reminding the postal worker that the named person is deceased.
Take Care
Always be cautious, and never open any mail that is not intended for you. Opening and reading someone’s mail is a federal offense. The only time this law does not apply is if you are the legal representative of the person that is deceased. Otherwise, never open their mail.
