Finding every account
Scan bank and credit card statements
Pull up 2-3 months of statements and look for small, recurring charges – streaming ($9.99, $15.99...), app stores, cloud storage, subscription boxes. This catches almost everything, including subscriptions the person may have forgotten about themselves.
Search the email inbox
Search for "receipt," "renewal," "your subscription," or "payment confirmed." Most services send an email every time they charge – this often surfaces accounts that didn't show up clearly on the bank statement.
Check the phone's subscription list
On an iPhone: Settings → [Name] → Subscriptions. On Android: Play Store → profile icon → Payments & subscriptions → Subscriptions. This shows every subscription billed through Apple or Google directly, which sometimes doesn't appear as a separate line on bank statements.
Closing accounts, by type
Streaming & subscriptions
Cancel directly through the account settings, or call customer service if you can't log in. Most services let you cancel without proving you're the account holder if you can no longer access it – explain the situation and ask about their bereavement process.
Google & Apple accounts
Both offer a legacy-planning feature the account owner has to set up in advance: Google's Inactive Account Manager and Apple's Legacy Contact. If neither was set up, both companies have a separate next-of-kin request process – but it's often limited. Apple, for example, generally won't release Messages or most third-party app data even with a Legacy Contact.
Social media
Facebook & Instagram let a verified family member either memorialize the account (frozen, marked "Remembering") or request its removal. LinkedIn and X (Twitter) have their own deceased-user request forms. Most require a death certificate and proof of your relationship to the account holder.
Cloud storage & photos
Before cancelling anything, check whether there are photos, documents, or other files worth downloading first – once an account is closed, that content is often gone for good. Download what matters to a family member's device or a shared drive before proceeding.
What you'll typically need
Requirements vary by company, but most bereavement requests ask for some combination of:
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Death certificate
A copy (sometimes certified, sometimes a photo is enough) is the most commonly requested document. -
Proof of your relationship
Your ID plus something showing you're a family member or the estate's executor/administrator – see our guide on proving your authority to act. -
Account details
The email address or username on the account, and sometimes the last few billing transactions if you don't have login access.
Common questions about digital accounts
How do I find out what subscriptions someone had?
The most reliable way is to scan 2-3 months of bank and credit card statements for recurring charges – streaming services, app stores, cloud storage, and subscription boxes all show up there. Email inboxes (search for "receipt" or "renewal") and the person's phone (App Store/Google Play subscription list) are the other two main sources.
Can I get access to a deceased person's Google or Apple account?
Both offer a legacy-planning feature (Google's Inactive Account Manager, Apple's Legacy Contact) that the account owner has to set up in advance. If that wasn't set up, both companies have a separate next-of-kin request process, but it's often limited – Apple, for example, generally won't hand over Messages or third-party app data even to a Legacy Contact or with a court order for certain content types. Requirements and outcomes vary and can change, so check each company's current policy directly.
What should I do with a deceased person's social media accounts?
Facebook and Instagram let a verified family member either memorialize the account (frozen, marked "Remembering") or request its removal. LinkedIn and X (Twitter) have separate deceased-user request forms. Requirements typically include a death certificate and proof of your relationship.
Am I responsible for paying off subscriptions I cancel late?
Generally, no – as the surviving family member or executor you're not personally liable for the deceased's debts or subscriptions; any amounts owed come out of the estate, not your own pocket. Cancel promptly anyway to stop further charges from accumulating.