Separate forwarding from advertising removal after a death

Advertising-list removal does not forward a deceased person's mail. To arrange ongoing forwarding of all their mail to another address, the appointed executor or administrator must visit a Post Office with proof of appointment. A death certificate alone is not enough. Handle advertising preferences separately through senders or the ANA deceased-person list.

By Junk Mail Magic. Updated October 2, 2026.

Run two tracks

Ongoing forwarding of all mail: the appointed executor or administrator takes proof of appointment to a Post Office and submits the change of address there.
Advertising: pull out the pieces that are plainly sales or fundraising mail. Note each sender's exact name and the name printed on the label.
Contact each advertiser through its own contact route and ask it to stop mailing to that name.
Keep possible real correspondence, such as official notices or account matters, out of the advertising pile and give it to the authorized person.

Forwarding just one piece

USPS provides another option if you shared the deceased person's mailing address: you can forward a single envelope to the executor without a Post Office visit. Cross out the old address, add 'Forward to' and the new address, and place it for carrier pickup or in an eligible USPS collection location. Use the linked USPS instructions for the full procedure.

That one-piece step does not establish ongoing forwarding. Neither forwarding procedure removes a name from an advertiser's list, and an advertising request redirects nothing.

Two-task checklist

Example for your own use. Replace the bracketed details and review what you share.

TASK 1: Ongoing forwarding of all mail (Post Office, in person) Appointed executor or administrator: [name] Proof of appointment ready: [yes / no] Planned visit date: [date] TASK 2: Advertising senders Sender: [name] Name on label: [name as printed] Contact route used: [website / phone / mail] Date asked: [date] Reply received: [yes / no]

Give each task an owner

Write both task names at the top of the checklist and put one person's name beside each. The appointed person plans the Post Office visit. Whoever sorts the mail adds a row for each new advertiser and records any reply.

Official source

USPS: Mail Addressed to the Deceased

Does USPS Hold Mail stop advertising?Separate marketing requests from estate tasks Does forwarding update every catalog preference?Ask a charity to stop appeals addressed to someone who died After a loss All practical mail guides

Choose the route that matches the mailing

Use the official route described in this guide for this kind of mail. For a separate ordinary advertisement, Junk Mail Magic can help prepare a sender-specific removal request.

Compare removal routes