When someone dies, the physical world eventually goes quiet. The mail slows down, the phone stops ringing. But their digital life keeps going. Subscriptions renew. Emails arrive. Social media accounts collect birthday wishes from people who haven’t heard the news. And every month, charges hit a bank account or credit card that nobody’s watching closely enough.
Closing digital accounts is one of those tasks that feels minor until you realize there are thirty of them. Here’s how to work through it without losing your mind.
Start With the Money: Subscriptions and Recurring Charges
This is the most urgent category because these accounts are actively draining the estate. Pull bank and credit card statements from the last three months and flag every recurring charge. Common ones to look for:
- Streaming services — Netflix, Spotify, Hulu, Apple Music, YouTube Premium, Disney+, HBO Max
- Cloud storage — iCloud, Google One, Dropbox
- Software subscriptions — Adobe, Microsoft 365, antivirus programs
- Meal kits, subscription boxes, and delivery services
- Gym memberships and fitness apps
- News and magazine subscriptions
- Domain registrations and web hosting
Most of these can be canceled online or with a phone call. You’ll typically need a death certificate and proof that you’re authorized to manage the account (executor letters or next-of-kin documentation). Some services will issue a prorated refund. It never hurts to ask.
Email Accounts: The Hub of Everything
If you can access the deceased’s email, start there. Email is the skeleton key to their digital life — password resets, account confirmations, and subscription receipts all flow through it. Search for terms like “subscription,” “renewal,” “payment confirmation,” and “welcome to” to find accounts you might not know about.
For the email account itself:
- Google has an Inactive Account Manager that can grant access to a trusted contact, or you can submit a request with a death certificate
- Apple requires a court order or Digital Legacy contact setup to access an iCloud account
- Yahoo and Outlook will close accounts upon request with proof of death
Don’t rush to delete the email account. Keep it active until you’ve finished closing everything else — you may need it for password resets or account verification.
Social Media: Memorialize or Remove
Each platform handles deceased users differently:
- Facebook/Instagram — Can be memorialized (the profile stays up with “Remembering” next to the name) or removed entirely. A legacy contact can manage the memorialized account.
- Twitter/X — Submit a deactivation request with a death certificate and proof of relationship.
- LinkedIn — Submit a verification form to have the profile removed.
- TikTok, Pinterest, Reddit — Contact support directly with documentation.
There’s no wrong answer here. Some families want to keep the profile as a memorial. Others find it painful to see. Do whatever feels right for your family.
The Long Tail: Everything Else
Once you’ve handled subscriptions, email, and social media, work through the remaining digital footprint:
- Online banking and investment portals (coordinate with the financial institutions directly)
- Loyalty programs and airline miles — some can be transferred to a beneficiary
- Gaming accounts — Steam, PlayStation, Xbox often have digital purchases worth noting
- Online shopping accounts — Amazon, eBay, Walmart
- Photo storage — download anything the family wants to keep before closing cloud accounts
A password manager (if the deceased used one) makes this process dramatically easier. If they didn’t, check their browser’s saved passwords — most store them locally and they’re accessible from the device.
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Their digital life can wait until you’re ready. But it won’t wait forever.
This post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or medical advice. Consult a licensed professional for guidance specific to your situation.