How to Close a Deceased Person’s Online Accounts
A practical guide to memorializing or closing email, social media, and subscription accounts after a death.
Want this tracked alongside everything else you need to do?
Digital accounts — email, social media, photos, and subscriptions — need attention too, both to stop recurring charges and to protect your loved one’s memory and data.
Step by step
- 1Make a list. Check their devices, password manager, and email for accounts and subscriptions.
- 2Use memorialization and legacy options. Many platforms offer memorialization or a legacy contact. Some let you download data before closing.
- 3Cancel paid subscriptions. Stop recurring charges for streaming, storage, and apps. Watch the deceased’s bank statements for any you missed.
Common questions
Can I access my parent’s email account?
Often not directly, for privacy reasons. Providers have specific deceased-user processes, and some require court documents. Check each provider’s help pages.
Related guides
This is general information, not legal advice. Laws and thresholds vary by state and change over time — verify specifics with the official sources above or a licensed professional.