# Legally required to do anything with dead person's passport, etc? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 3, 2016, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legally-required-to-do-anything-with-dead-persons-passport-etc/753754 "2016-05-03T02:54:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2016, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legally-required-to-do-anything-with-dead-persons-passport-etc/753754/1 "2016-05-03T02:54:44Z")
My mother died three years ago and I was the executor of her estate. Everything has long since been settled, but I had a small suitcase full of papers I was afraid to trash. Now that we are moving and it’s 100% clear that there will be no further issues, I’m getting rid of things. But it feels a little weird. I have just destroyed, by cutting into pieces, a passport, two social security cards, a lot of credit cards for accounts that were long since closed, health insurance cards, a Medicare card, etc. I assume that was fine (and anyway it is too late now), but are there any laws or guidelines about such matters? ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2016, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legally-required-to-do-anything-with-dead-persons-passport-etc/753754/2 "2016-05-03T03:35:02Z")
For my mothers estate, I scanned those documents and saved digital copies of them. If they are ever needed again, the info is available, and I expect the original forms could be re-obtained from the appropriat government body – if they are ever needed again. Then I destroyed the paper forms. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2016, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legally-required-to-do-anything-with-dead-persons-passport-etc/753754/3 "2016-05-03T05:41:25Z")
For passport: [What needs to be done with a passport when someone dies?](http://www.us-passport-service-guide.com/what-needs-to-be-done-with-a-passport-when-someone-dies.html) ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2016, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legally-required-to-do-anything-with-dead-persons-passport-etc/753754/4 "2016-05-03T11:45:21Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > For passport: [What needs to be done with a passport when someone dies?](http://www.us-passport-service-guide.com/what-needs-to-be-done-with-a-passport-when-someone-dies.html) Just a heads-up: the link in the above post is not to an official government agency…it’s a private company. (I have no idea if that affects the accuracy of the information.) ---
**Author:** ![spifflog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@spifflog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spifflog)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2016, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legally-required-to-do-anything-with-dead-persons-passport-etc/753754/5 "2016-05-03T17:12:06Z")
From the U. S. State Department: To Cancel the Passport of a Deceased Relative The Department of State recommends that a family member or executor of a deceased passport bearer return the passport for cancelation. The passport will be returned after it is canceled. Please submit the valid passport, a certified copy of the death certificate, and a letter requesting the cancelation and return (or destruction) of the passport to: U.S. Department of State Consular Lost and Stolen Passport Unit (CLASP) CA/PPT/S/L/LE/CP 44132 Mercure Circle P.O. Box 1227 Sterling, VA 20166-1227 > **[Lost or Stolen U.S. Passport](https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/have-passport/lost-stolen.html)** > > How to report your U.S. passport lost or stolen if you are in the United States.