What Happens to Digital Accounts After Someone Dies
Reviewed by Everendium Editorial Team · Last reviewed August 18, 2026
Quick answer
Most major platforms (Google, Apple, Facebook) have a process for memorializing, transferring, or closing a deceased person's account, usually requiring a death certificate and sometimes a legal document proving you're authorized to act. Start with the platforms that matter most rather than trying to handle everything at once.
Digital accounts are a genuinely new category of things to handle after a death, and most families find it more confusing than the traditional paperwork.
Start with what matters most
Rather than trying to track down every account at once, prioritize:
- Email — often the key to resetting passwords elsewhere, and worth securing early
- Social media — especially if you want to memorialize a profile before unwanted content appears
- Financial or subscription accounts — anything with recurring charges
How major platforms typically handle this
- Facebook and Instagram offer a memorialization request, or account removal, through a specific online form — usually requiring proof of death
- Google has a process for either accessing data or closing an account, through their “Inactive Account Manager” or a specific deceased-user request form
- Apple has a Digital Legacy program allowing a pre-designated legacy contact to access an account, or a separate request process without one
Policies and exact steps change over time, so it’s worth checking each platform’s current help pages directly rather than relying solely on this summary.
What you’ll typically need
Most platforms ask for some combination of:
- A certified death certificate
- Proof of your relationship or legal authority (such as being the executor)
- Sometimes a court order, for full account access rather than memorialization
Finding accounts you didn’t know about
Checking the deceased’s email inbox for account notifications, receipts, or password reset messages often reveals accounts family members weren’t aware of. A password manager, if they used one, can also help.
For your own planning
If you’d like to make this easier for your own family, consider naming a digital executor or setting up Apple’s/Google’s legacy contact features in advance. Our Final Day Plan has a section for writing down what you’d want done with your digital accounts.
Platform policies change over time — check the specific platform’s current help resources for the most accurate, up-to-date process.
Frequently asked questions
Can I just log into their accounts if I know the password?+
Technically maybe, but most platforms' terms of service prohibit this, and some states have specific digital-access laws that require formal authorization instead. Using the platform's official process is generally the safer route.
What is account memorialization?+
Many platforms (Facebook, Instagram) offer a "memorialized" state instead of deletion — the profile remains visible for friends and family to see and post memories, but no longer functions as an active account.
What if I don't know all the accounts my loved one had?+
Check their email inbox for account notifications and password reset emails — this often reveals accounts you didn't know existed. A password manager, if they used one, can also be a helpful starting point.
Is there a "digital executor" I should name in my own planning?+
Some estate plans specifically name someone to handle digital accounts, separate from the general executor. This isn't required, but can make things considerably easier for your own family later.
Sources
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