What counts as proof of death?
Federal loan servicers accept three main documents as proof of death:
- Original death certificate
- Certified copy of death certificate
- An accurate and complete photocopy of either one of these documents
No death certificate? Your servicer might accept other documentation as proof:
- Statement from the county clerk’s office stating the borrower is dead and the death certificate is not available
- Official letter from the funeral director or clergyman who performed the funeral
- Copy of a death announcement published in a local newspaper
Reach out to your servicer to learn if they have additional requirements for these documents.