Last verified 2026-08-17; facts checked against the primary sources below
USPS mail forwarding after death: documents and steps
Last verified: August 17, 2026
Forwarding instructions checked against USPS on October 7, 2026.
The short answer: To forward a deceased person's mail to another address, go to a Post Office with documented proof that you are the appointed executor or administrator. Complete the Change of Address request in person. A death certificate alone is not enough. If you shared the address, USPS also explains how to redirect individual pieces without filing a forwarding order.
Start with these three steps
- Gather documents showing your appointment as executor or administrator. Ask the Post Office what proof it will accept for your situation.
- Visit a Post Office and explain that you need to forward mail for someone who has died.
- Complete the Change of Address request there. Use the deceased person's individual request so surviving household members' mail is not redirected.
Need help identifying appointment papers? See the California letters testamentary guide. A death certificate records the death, but does not establish your authority to redirect mail.
USPS deceased mail at a glance
| Situation | USPS instruction |
|---|---|
| Forward all mail to another address | Visit a Post Office with proof of executor or administrator authority and complete the request in person |
| You shared the deceased person's address | You may receive the mail there and manage or redirect individual pieces |
| You only have a death certificate | Not sufficient authority for a deceased-person Change of Address |
| Forward one piece | Cross out the old address, write “Forward to” and the new address, and return it to USPS |
| Reduce advertising mail | Use the deceased do-not-contact process described by USPS; it can take time to reduce mailings |
Who can forward a deceased person's mail?
USPS's deceased-mail instructions require documented proof of appointment as executor or administrator and an in-person Change of Address request to forward mail to another address.
Possession of the death certificate does not by itself establish authority. A relative who has not been appointed should coordinate with the executor or administrator rather than filing as the deceased person.
How does an executor submit the Change of Address?
Visit a Post Office to complete the request. Bring your appointment documents and ask which identification and supporting documents the office requires. USPS's deceased-mail page explicitly says that the request must be completed in person; do not rely on an ordinary online change of address or mail a request as a substitute.
Use an individual Change of Address for the deceased person rather than a family request that could redirect mail belonging to surviving household members.
What if you lived at the same address as the deceased person?
USPS says anyone who would normally receive the deceased person's mail at that address may continue to receive it there. You can manage the mail as needed or redirect individual pieces to the appointed executor.
To forward one item, neatly cross out the delivery address, write “Forward to” and the new address on the front, then leave it for the carrier, place it in a collection box, or take it to a Post Office. Do not open mail if you are not authorized to handle it.
How long will USPS forward the mail?
USPS's ordinary permanent Change of Address rules generally forward First-Class Mail for 12 months and periodicals for 60 days. Some mail classes, marketing mail, and packages have different treatment, and a sender's endorsement can control forwarding or return.
A forwarding order is therefore a discovery window, not a permanent estate mailbox. As statements arrive, notify the actual sender of the death and give it the proper estate mailing address.
Does USPS forward every type of mail?
No. USPS states that Marketing Mail is generally forwarded only when the mailer requests forwarding, and Package Services can follow different rules. Government checks, identity-sensitive mail, and items with special endorsements may be returned or handled separately.
Do not rely on forwarding alone for tax agencies, benefits, banks, insurers, courts, creditors, or property services. Contact each important sender directly.
How do you stop advertising mail addressed to someone who died?
USPS points families to the Data & Marketing Association's deceased do-not-contact list. It says advertising mail should decrease within about three months after registration, not stop immediately.
This is separate from the USPS Change of Address. Continue watching for legitimate statements, refund checks, insurance notices, tax forms, and unknown assets while reducing catalogs and solicitations.
Why is mail forwarding important for an estate?
Mail can reveal assets, bills, subscriptions, insurance policies, tax records, safe-deposit notices, and deadlines. Create a simple log with the sender, account type, action taken, and new correspondence address.
Watch for scams that exploit obituary information. Verify phone numbers and websites independently before giving an account number, Social Security number, or death certificate.
Related executor guides
- First 30 days after a death in California
- Cancel subscriptions after death
- Claim life insurance after death
- Open an estate bank account in California
USPS procedures and forwarding periods can change. Confirm the current requirements with the Post Office serving the deceased person's address before submitting documents.