The deceased likely had dozens of digital accounts: email, social media, banking, subscriptions, cloud storage, and more. Closing or memorializing these accounts prevents identity theft, stops recurring charges, and preserves digital legacy.
15 steps across 2 sections
1. Steps Process
- Inventory digital accounts — Check devices, email, browser saved passwords, password managers, and financial statements for recurring charges.
- Access the accounts — Use saved passwords, password managers, or platform-specific legacy contact/inactive account processes. Legal access may require court order.
- Handle major platforms:
- Facebook: Memorialize or delete via memorialization request
- Google: Inactive Account Manager or request data/deletion
- Apple: Digital Legacy Contact or court order
- Microsoft: Next of Kin process
- Twitter/X: Deactivation request with death certificate
- Cancel subscriptions — Streaming services, software, apps, memberships. Check bank/credit card statements for recurring charges.
- Secure financial accounts — Online banking, investment accounts, cryptocurrency wallets.
2. Key Details
- Most platforms require death certificate and proof of relationship
- Executor or next of kin typically has legal authority
- Some platforms allow you to designate a "legacy contact" or "inactive account manager" while alive
- Cryptocurrency: Without the private key/seed phrase, assets may be permanently inaccessible
- Subscription cancellation may require contacting each service individually
Pro Tips
- Use a password manager and share the master password with a trusted person
- Set up Google Inactive Account Manager and Facebook Legacy Contact NOW
- Document cryptocurrency keys/seeds in your estate plan
- Check bank/credit card statements for 3 months to catch all recurring charges
- Some services offer data download tools (Google Takeout, Facebook Download Yo...