Closing Digital Accounts After a Death | Honorly
DIGITAL & RECURRING

How to Close or Memorialize Digital Accounts After a Death

Updated September 2026

Email, social media, cloud storage, and photo libraries can all remain active after someone dies, and each platform has its own process for handling the account. Depending on the service, you may be able to access or preserve certain data, memorialize the account, or close it. Some platforms also let people choose in advance who can access certain information after their death. This guide covers how to work through these accounts and protect important information.

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QUICK ANSWER

Start by making a list of the person's digital accounts and identifying any photos, files, or other information that may need to be preserved. Then check each platform's policy before closing or changing the account. Some services offer a legacy contact or inactive-account feature set up in advance. Documentation requirements vary, but you may be asked for a death certificate and proof of your authority or relationship to the person who died.

AT A GLANCE
Who can handle it Depends on the platform and may include a designated legacy contact, immediate family member, or estate representative
Documents you may need Death certificate, proof of identity or relationship, proof of authority, and account information
Does it require probate? Not always, but some requests may require court or estate documents
What happens to the accounts? Depending on the platform, accounts or data may be preserved, memorialized, accessed in a limited way, or deleted
WHAT'S INVOLVED

How do you handle digital accounts after someone dies?

  1. 01
    Make a list of accounts and devices
    Include email, social media, cloud storage, photo libraries, shopping and payment apps, subscriptions, and any phones or computers that may contain important information.
  2. 02
    Identify what needs to be preserved
    Before requesting that an account be closed, identify any photos, documents, messages, or other information the family may want to keep. Follow the platform's process for requesting access or preserving data before deleting the account, since deletion may be permanent.
  3. 03
    Check for legacy or inactive-account settings
    Some platforms let people choose in advance who can access certain account information after their death or a period of inactivity. If the person set one up, follow the platform's process for requesting access.
  4. 04
    Contact each platform
    Follow the service's process for a deceased user. Requirements vary, but you may be asked for a death certificate, proof of your identity or relationship, or documents showing your authority to act for the estate.
  5. 05
    Close or memorialize the account when appropriate
    The options depend on the platform. Some social media accounts can be memorialized, while other services may allow the account to be closed or certain data to be provided to an authorized person.
  6. 06
    Look for digital assets with financial value
    Digital accounts may also contain assets with value, such as cryptocurrency, domain names, loyalty rewards, or revenue from online businesses or content. Identify these separately before closing related accounts.
HOW HONORLY HELPS

How does Honorly help?

We help inventory digital accounts, identify information that may need to be preserved, check for legacy or inactive-account settings, and work through each platform's process for requesting access, memorializing, or closing accounts.

You decide what should be preserved or closed. We handle the platforms, paperwork, and follow-through.

COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently asked questions about digital accounts

Can I just log in with their password?

It's best to follow each platform's official process for a deceased user rather than assuming that having the password gives you authority to access the account. Platform rules vary, and services may offer specific ways for family members, estate representatives, or designated contacts to request access to data.

What is a legacy contact?

Some services let people decide in advance what should happen to certain account data after their death or a period of inactivity. Apple's Legacy Contact lets a person designate someone who can request access to certain Apple Account data after their death. The Legacy Contact generally needs the access key created by the account holder and a death certificate. Not all account information is accessible. Google uses a different system called Inactive Account Manager, which lets a person choose trusted contacts who can receive selected account data after a specified period of inactivity.

What if there wasn't a legacy contact set up?

You may still be able to request that an account be closed or, in some circumstances, request access to certain data. Apple explains its process for requesting access to a deceased family member's account, which may require legal documentation. Google also accepts requests regarding a deceased user's account from immediate family members and representatives. Google may provide account content in certain circumstances, but it does not provide passwords or other login credentials.

Why should we handle digital accounts promptly?

Digital accounts can contain personal information, financial information, photos, documents, and access to other services. Identifying important accounts and following each platform's process helps preserve information the family needs and reduces the risk of important accounts being left unmanaged.

About Honorly

Let us handle it.

Honorly is an estate settlement service that handles the administrative, financial, and legal tasks that follow a loved one's passing, so families aren't left to figure everything out alone.

We handle the calls, paperwork, and follow-ups that come after a loss, so your family can focus on each other.

Talk to our team