Things to close, pay off after the death of a loved one
By Pat Curry • Bankrate.com

Some items that may need to be canceled or closed after a loved one dies include:

• Bank accounts and debit cards
  
  
• Credit cards
  
  
• Newspaper and magazine subscriptions
  
  
• Club memberships, including health and automobile clubs, such as AAA
  
  
• Local and long-distance phone service
  
  
• Cable or satellite television service
  
  
• Internet service
  
  
• Cell phone service
  
  
• Pager service
  
  
• Garbage pickup
  
  
• Social Security benefits.

Before you cancel credit cards and close checking accounts, locate the statements and see if any bills are paid automatically.

Other items and services still need to be paid, such as:

• Mortgages
  
  
• Utility bills (If a house is to be sold, real estate agents often require that the lights and water be left on while it's being shown.)
  
  
• Property taxes
  
  
• Car payments
  
  
• Other loans, such as debt consolidation loans
  
  
• Outstanding credit card balances

-- Posted: July 2, 2002