How do I gather documentation?

Obtain certified copies of the death certificate. Locate the will or trust to identify the executor. Gather any account information the deceased may have kept.

How do I address financial accounts first?

Contact banks and credit card companies with the death certificate. Review statements for recurring charges and cancel subscriptions.

How do I request email access?

Contact the email provider's deceased account process. Google: Inactive Account Manager or data request. Apple: Digital Legacy program.

How do I handle social media?

For each platform, search "[platform] deceased account" to find the request form. Choose to memorialize or delete.

How do I cancel phone and subscriptions?

Contact the cell phone carrier. Check for app subscriptions on their phone. Cancel streaming services, gym memberships, and other recurring services.

How do I keep records?

Document every account you close with confirmation numbers and dates. Store these with other estate documents.

TekSure — Free Tech Help for Beginners & Seniors

When a loved one passes away, their online accounts do not close automatically. Email, social media, banking, subscriptions, and other accounts remain active — and in some cases, they continue to charge fees. Handling these accounts is an important part of settling their affairs.

Start with the most critical accounts first: financial accounts and recurring charges. Check their bank and credit card statements (online or paper) for recurring subscriptions. Cancel these to stop ongoing charges. Contact their bank to close or freeze accounts — you will typically need a death certificate and proof that you are the executor or next of kin.

For email accounts: gaining access to a deceased person's email is important because it is often the key to finding and closing their other accounts. Google (Gmail) has an "Inactive Account Manager" and a process for requesting access. Apple has a "Digital Legacy" program. In both cases, you need a death certificate and legal documentation.

For social media: Facebook allows you to "memorialize" an account (it stays visible with "Remembering" next to the name) or delete it. Go to facebook.com/help/contact/228813257197480. Instagram and Twitter/X have similar processes. Search for "[platform name] deceased account" to find the request form.

For subscriptions: check their phone for apps with active subscriptions. iPhone: sign in to their Apple ID → Settings → Subscriptions. Cancel each one. For other subscriptions (Netflix, Spotify, gym memberships), contact each company with a death certificate.

Keep a record of every account you close, including confirmation numbers and dates. This helps if there are any disputes later.

If the deceased had a password manager or left a written list of accounts and passwords, this makes the process much more manageable. Consider this as motivation to create your own digital estate plan.