Managing Online Presence After Death

In today’s society, our lives extend far beyond physical spaces, with our online presence being integral to how we communicate, work, and express ourselves. When someone passes, these online presences remain active, visible, and sometimes unmanaged, which can create both emotional and practical challenges for those left behind. From social media pages to email accounts and subscriptions, there are many online elements that require closure once someone has passed, which can be difficult for loved ones to navigate.

For individuals, families, and organisations alike, managing online presences after death is an important consideration that can feel overwhelming at an already difficult time, which is why we are here to help. Throughout this blog, we will explore how to manage your own accounts in preparation for the future, as well as provide you with details on how to manage the accounts of a loved one who has passed. We will cover everything from managing social media profiles to online bank accounts, subscriptions, and utility accounts, including how to create a digital legacy or close accounts completely, so you can help protect privacy and prevent distress. 

What happens to your online presence when you die?

When you pass, your online accounts will stay active and visible until deactivated. While some accounts will require ownership transfer or closure, such as banks and subscriptions, other accounts, such as those held on social media platforms, usually offer options such as memorialisation to keep the account visible after death. How these accounts are closed, transferred, or memorialised will depend on the nature of them, as some can be done with account logins, while others will require a formal notification and death certificate. 

If accounts are left open after you’ve passed, you run the risk of privacy issues and leaving behind practical difficulties for your family. Therefore, we suggest you look ahead and make plans for your own digital accounts to help reduce the burden on loved ones after you have passed. There are a number of things you can do to help your family manage your digital accounts once you have passed, including:

• Email – Engage the ‘inactive account manager’ function in your email (this is true for Gmail, alternate account providers have similar options). This feature allows you to select up to 10 trusted contacts who will be notified when the account has been inactive for a certain period of time. It allows those trusted people to gain access to any essential information on the account and download the data. It will also give them the ability to close down the account if they wish. This feature can also be used to instruct the account to be permanently deleted after a period of inactivity, in order to fully protect your privacy
• Online banking – Keep a list of your online bank account details somewhere safe, or in your will, so the executor of your estate can contact the relevant banks and inform them of your passing
• Utility accounts – Keep a list of your utility accounts to hand so your next of kin or executor knows who to contact to stop bills, or to switch them into someone else’s name as the new main account holder
• Subscription services – Write down your login details for any subscription services, so you can give next of kin access to your accounts to close them down
• Social media – Make sure to detail what you would like to happen to your social media accounts in your will, along with the relevant login information, so your loved ones know whether to post about your passing, deactivate the account, or create a memorial profile
• Outline your wishes in your will – Adding information in your will about which online accounts you have, their details, what you would like to be done with them, and who you would like to be responsible for closing them will make a great difference to those left behind.

Putting these plans in place ensures that your online presence is handled respectfully, securely, and in line with your wishes.

What to do with online accounts when someone dies?

Closing online accounts after someone dies can feel daunting. While the process and requirements vary between service providers, below we have outlined a few clear steps below to help make this process manageable for you.

Inform government accounts 

If you wish to report the death of a loved one to all governmental organisations, you can use the government’s ’Tell Us Once’ service. This service allows you to report the death to most government organisations all in one go, including local councils, HMRC, DVLA, Passport Office, and DWP. This can be incredibly helpful, saving you time and hassle in contacting individual organisations. However, keep in mind that this does not cover closing down bank accounts, email and social media accounts, or any subscription services (which we’ll cover next).

To use this service, you will need to provide them with the name of the deceased, the date and place they passed, along with their National Insurance number, passport/driving license number, and details of the next of kin.

Identify all other online accounts 

The next step is to make a list of all of the deceased person’s online accounts. This includes email, social media, banking, subscription services, cloud storage, and utilities. To log in to these accounts, you may need to look for saved login details on other devices and password managers. Below, we have listed some of the most common accounts you will need to close, along with links to instructions on how to close them.

Banking and Bills

You must contact the bank you wish to close directly via their bereavement team. They will ask you to provide details of the deceased along with the death certificate and evidence that you are the named executor on the will, as well as your own identification. The same will also be asked by any utility companies you contact to stop bills.

Social Media

Each social media account will have a different process for closing down the account of the deceased. Here is a breakdown of each of the most common platforms and what they require:

• Facebook will ask you to provide proof of your authority, along with proof that your loved one has passed away. 
• Instagram will also ask for the deceased’s birth and death certificates, along with your proof of authority, and gives you the option to memorialise the account if you wish.
• X (Formerly known as Twitter) asks you to fill out a form with information, including their username and your connection to the owner of the account, to request deactivation. 
• LinkedIn gives you the option to memorialise the account, but if you wish to close the account completely, you will need to submit their full name, LinkedIn profile URL, email address, date of passing and a copy of the death certificate. To ensure you have authority, they will also ask for letters of administration, testamentary and representation issued by a court, or another court order that appoints the requester as authorised personnel.
• YouTube account closure will need to be done through the Google Account Help Centre, which you can also use to close any Google Storage accounts or e-mails. They will ask for details of the deceased, including full name, email, death certificate and any other additional documents to better support your case. They will also require your email, government ID, and your relationship to the deceased.
• TikTok asks you to email them at [email protected] or [email protected] with the deceased’s username, a copy of the death certificate, and proof of your authority as an executor to request deletion.

Emails and Subscriptions

For any email account, including Google, Yahoo, Microsoft Outlook, Hotmail, OneDrive, or any online storage like an Apple iCloud account, you will be required to provide a copy of the death certificate, proof of your authority, along with as much information as possible about the deceased. 

For any subscription services, the process for cancelling and closing the accounts is pretty straightforward. If you have access to the deceased’s bank account, you will be able to see a clear list of what regular subscriptions leave the account, which can help streamline the process.

Netflix will ask you to contact them with information of the account owner, including the email address and phone number associated with the account, as well as the payment information currently used to pay the subscription, before closing the account on behalf of the deceased.

Amazon allows you to close the account by providing a copy of the death certificate, the email or phone number linked to the account, proof of your authorisation, and a valid photo ID.

Disney+ subscriptions can be cancelled if you have login details that allow you to delete the account through the website. However, if you do not have access to the log-ins, you will need to contact their customer service and provide them with the deceased’s e-mail address, a copy of the death certificate, and proof of your authority.

Avoid logging in without permission

In the event that you already know the log in information for the deceased’s online accounts, we suggest still asking for formal authorisation in order to avoid breaching any terms of service or data protection laws. Always follow the provider’s official process to avoid complications. Most providers’ websites will have a ‘help’, ‘support’, or ‘bereavement’ section that will provide you with further information on how to close accounts in the event of a death.

Establish your authority

If you cannot find login information yourself, you will need to contact service providers with a death certificate and proof of identity that establishes your authority as the executor of the estate or next of kin. Most companies will only act once they know you are authorised to have access to the account. You should be prepared to provide proof of identity and, where required, documentation such as a will or grant of probate. 

Decide whether to memorialise or delete social media accounts

When it comes to managing the social media accounts of the deceased, you can choose to either delete the account entirely or create a memorial account. Certain social media platforms, like Instagram and Facebook, allow you to turn the deceased’s page into a memorial space that still allows friends and family to share memories on the account. If you do not wish to memorialise the account, you can choose to delete the account entirely.

In order to do either of these options, you will be required to provide a copy of the death certificate.

Do you need a death certificate to close online accounts?

Depending on the type of online account and service provider, in many cases, a death certificate is required to close the account. This applies to online accounts such as banks, utilities, subscriptions, and some social media accounts. A certified copy of the death certificate provides formal legal confirmation that the account should be closed indefinitely, with some organisations also requesting additional paperwork, such as proof that you are the executor or next of kin.

Not all accounts require a death certificate; some smaller online services may close an account with a written request or, if you have access to the account itself, can be deleted without any proof of death. Due to the varying requirements across platforms, it’s best to check each provider’s bereavement or support policy and keep several certified copies of the death certificate to hand in order to make the process smoother.

How to acquire a death certificate

To get a death certificate, you must register the death within 5 days in the UK, 8 days in Scotland, at a local registrar’s office. You can register the death after receiving a medical certificate from a GP or hospital. Keep in mind that, along with the medical certificate of death, you will also need to bring along with you the deceased’s passport, birth certificate, proof of address, and NHS medical card.

Once you have provided the registrar with the above, they will then be able to provide you with a death certificate, with additional copies available so you can begin closing any accounts. 

A death certificate is just one of the many things you need to acquire when dealing with a loss. Our bereavement checklist provides a simple step-by-step guide of everything you need to do following a death, to make things as simple as possible during this difficult time. 

Find bereavement support at Heart of England

If you are currently dealing with the loss of a loved one and you’re unsure about how to manage their online accounts, you don’t have to face it alone. We’re here to offer clear guidance on what to do next, and compassionate support during this difficult time, helping to ease the practical burden so you can focus on what matters most. 

Whether you need advice on managing wills, making end-of-life arrangements, or bereavement support, get in touch with us today to find out how we can help.