What to Cancel After a Loved One Passes
Why Canceling Accounts After Death Matters
When someone passes away, their digital and financial presence doesn’t disappear. From automatic subscription charges to identity theft risks, it’s important to take control of lingering accounts and memberships. Taking time to review and cancel these accounts helps protect their legacy and prevents future complications for loved ones.
Identity Theft and Ongoing Charges
One of the primary reasons to prioritize closing accounts after death is to prevent identity theft. According to Fortunly, “a recent study showed that there have been almost 800,000 incidents where criminals have exploited the identities of the deceased to open credit cards or even get a cell phone plan. Studies have also shown that twice as many thieves used a fake Social Security number belonging to those who have passed away.”
Deceased individuals are frequently targeted for fraud because their personal information can remain active if not properly closed or flagged. Subscription services, financial accounts, and other automated platforms will often continue billing unless told otherwise.
Emotional and Financial Cleanup
Beyond preventing fraud, subscription cancellation after death also relieves surviving family members of surprise charges or emotional disruptions, like getting a subscription charge or seeing social media updates on auto-post. Cleaning up these details can help bring closure and financial clarity.
Checklist of Things to Cancel When Someone Dies
The process of sorting through someone’s accounts can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re still grieving. It’s easy to overlook all the accounts and services tied to someone’s life.
This checklist categorizes tasks to make it easier to track and manage. Start with financial accounts and essential services, then move on to digital and loyalty accounts.
Financial Accounts
Money-related accounts should be addressed early. These include bank accounts, credit cards, and investment portfolios.
Bank Accounts
After death, closing bank account access is often subject to probate laws and account type. Joint accounts may remain accessible, while individual accounts typically require a court process or proof of executor status.
Credit Cards
Cancel all credit cards immediately. Notify the issuers to stop charges and freeze accounts. Please note that authorized users must cease using the card upon the cardholder's death.
Investment or Retirement Accounts
These include 401(k)s, IRAs, brokerage accounts, and pensions. Contact each provider directly. In many cases, beneficiary designations supersede wills.
Subscriptions and Memberships (subscription cancellation after death)
Monthly and annual subscriptions keep charging unless canceled, so these subscriptions should be a priority for cancellation after death. Some companies have bereavement support teams that can help.
Streaming Services (Netflix, Hulu, Spotify)
These accounts often auto-renew monthly. Cancel through the account dashboard, or contact the platform’s support. Some allow for cancellation with just an email and copy of the death certificate. Here are links to help you submit cancellation requests or reach customer support for popular streaming services on behalf of a deceased individual:
Subscription Boxes (Amazon, food, wellness)
Cancel services like HelloFresh, Stitch Fix, or Amazon Subscribe & Save directly. If you don’t have login access, email customer support with proof of death. Here are links to help you submit cancellation requests or reach customer support for popular subscriptions on behalf of a deceased individual:
Magazines, Gym Memberships
These often renew yearly or monthly. For physical magazines or gyms, it may take a call or certified letter to close the account formally. Search for the customer service number online, call, and explain your situation.
Utility and Household Services
If your loved one lived independently, utilities may still be active and billing their estate.
Internet and Phone
Notify providers such as Comcast, Verizon, or AT&T. Be prepared with account numbers, ID, and the death certificate. Here are links to help you submit cancellation requests or reach customer support for popular internet and phone companies on behalf of a deceased individual:
Water, Gas, Electric
Contact local utility companies to arrange for the shutdown or transfer of services. If the home is staying in the family, you may want to transfer to another name instead.
Home Security Services
Reach out to companies like ADT or SimpliSafe to cancel or transfer ownership.
Government and Insurance Accounts
These accounts often require extra documentation and formal processes. Start as soon as possible to avoid delays.
Social Security
The funeral home usually notifies the Social Security Administration, but it’s good to confirm. Visit ssa.gov or call 1-800-772-1213.
Medicare/Medicaid
Contact your state’s office or Medicare directly at 1-800-MEDICARE.
Life Insurance and Health Insurance
Notify insurers to file claims and cancel ongoing coverage.
Loyalty Programs and Travel Accounts
Airline miles and hotel points may be valuable and transferrable. Each company has its own policy.
Airline Miles, Hotel Points
Each program has its own rules. Some allow points to transfer to family with a death certificate. Contact the airline or hotel directly. Below are links to help you submit cancellation requests or reach customer support for popular airline and hotel companies on behalf of a deceased individual:
- American Airlines
- Southwest Airlines
- Delta Airlines
- Frontier Airlines
- Spirit Airlines
- Hilton
- Marriott
- Hyatt
- Wyndham
Car Rental Memberships
Contact programs like Hertz Gold or Enterprise Plus to cancel or request closure.
Online and Social Media Accounts (closing accounts after death)
Digital identities should be secured or closed to prevent misuse and to support family privacy.
Email Accounts
Close or memorialize Gmail, Yahoo, or Outlook accounts through customer service.
Shopping Accounts
Log in to close your account or contact customer service with the necessary documentation.
Cloud Storage (Google Drive, Dropbox)
Google’s Inactive Account Manager can transfer data. For Dropbox, contact support.
How to Cancel Subscriptions and Close Accounts After Death
Once you’ve identified what needs to be canceled, you’ll need specific documentation and a process for each provider. Some are simple, while others are more bureaucratic. Be patient and stay organized for a smooth process.
Gather Documentation: Death Certificate, ID, Proof of Executor Role
Always start with official documentation. Most institutions require a copy of the death certificate, the deceased’s full name and account information, and proof that you’re the executor or next of kin.
Contacting Customer Support or Institutions
If you don’t have access to your loved one’s login credentials, please contact customer support. Use email, online forms, or phone support for assistance. Some companies have specific “bereavement departments” you can ask for when you call.
Using Online Tools
For example, Facebook offers a Memorialization Request Form for account closure or memorial status. Sites like Everplans also provide step-by-step guidance on how to cancel a subscription after death.
After Death: Closing a Bank Account and Managing Finances
Closing financial accounts requires careful coordination, precise timing, and adherence to legal compliance. Begin with banks and proceed to estate-level responsibilities.
Probate Requirements
Handling a loved one’s bank account during or after their passing may involve the probate process once access is granted. Probate legally validates the will and appoints an executor to manage the estate. Banks often won’t release funds or close accounts until the probate process is concluded.
Joint vs. Individual Accounts
Joint accounts often transfer automatically to the surviving owner. Individual accounts, however, are frozen until legal paperwork is submitted.
What Happens to Remaining Funds
Funds are typically distributed per the will, trust, or beneficiary instructions. If no beneficiary is listed, it will go through probate.
Special Considerations for Trusts and Legal Documents
Trusts are often used to avoid the probate process. However, they still require careful handling after the grantor's passing. Settling a trust involves multiple legal and administrative steps to ensure proper distribution of assets.
It’s important for the trustee to act promptly and document every action for legal compliance and transparency.
How to Close an Irrevocable Trust After Death
Unlike revocable trusts, irrevocable trusts can’t be altered after creation, but they can be closed. The trustee is responsible for managing the final distribution. This includes settling debts, filing final tax returns, and ensuring all beneficiaries receive their allotted shares. Failure to follow proper procedures can lead to disputes or legal liability for the trustee.
Contacting the Trustee or Estate Attorney
Notify the trust’s legal representative. You’ll likely need a death certificate and a copy of the trust document. An estate attorney can help interpret the trust’s terms and ensure all legal responsibilities are fulfilled. It's a good idea to schedule an initial meeting to map out required steps and deadlines.
Document Filing and Final Distributions
Once final taxes are paid and assets distributed, a formal notice of termination may be filed, depending on the state. In some cases, a final trust accounting must also be provided to beneficiaries for review. State-specific regulations may require filing with the court or tax authorities to finalize the trust’s closure.
Digital Legacy: Managing Social Media and Online Profiles
Securing a person’s online legacy is just as important as handling mail or financial records. Social accounts need to be memorialized or removed.
How to Close a Facebook Account When Someone Dies
Facebook and Instagram provide two options:
- Memorialize the account (preserves profile and marks as “Remembering”): Memorialization Request
- Delete the account permanently: Request Deletion
You’ll need the full name, profile link, death certificate, and your ID to do so. Click here to be directed to Facebook’s page about memorializing or deleting an account.
How to Close a Twitter/X Account When Someone Dies
Twitter (now X) doesn’t offer memorialized accounts but will deactivate a deceased user’s profile upon request from an immediate family member or legal representative.
How to Request Deactivation:
- Visit Twitter’s support page under “Deceased or Incapacitated Account.”
- Submit the user’s handle, proof of death (e.g., death certificate), and proof of your relationship (e.g., birth or marriage certificate).
- Twitter will review the request and may ask for more details.
- If approved, the account will be deactivated.
How to Close a LinkedIn Account When Someone Dies
LinkedIn allows profiles to be memorialized or closed after a member passes away.
- If you're authorized (e.g., a legal representative or family member), you can request to close the account by providing the necessary documents. Once approved, LinkedIn will remove the account, with data deletion completed within 30 days.
- If you're not authorized, you can still report the member as deceased, and LinkedIn will memorialize the profile to preserve their legacy.
To begin either process, gather the required information and submit a request through LinkedIn's support page here. LinkedIn will review and take the appropriate action.
How to Close a TikTok Account When Someone Dies
TikTok does not automatically remove the accounts of users who have passed away. However, the platform does offer options for either memorializing or permanently deleting an account if a formal request is made by an authorized party, typically a close family member or legal representative.
1. Memorialization: TikTok can turn a deceased user's profile into a memorial page. This prevents new posts, messages, or other activity on the account. To request this, visit the TikTok Support page, go to "Report a Problem," then select "Account and Profile." You’ll need to upload appropriate proof of death and may also be required to confirm your connection to the deceased user.
2. Account Deletion: If you prefer the account to be removed entirely, you’ll need to contact TikTok’s support team directly. As with memorialization, a death certificate or similar documentation will be required. TikTok may also ask for login details or other verification to process the request.
How to Close a Pinterest Account When Someone Dies
To close the Pinterest account of someone who has passed away, you’ll need to contact Pinterest Support through their help center, or by emailing [email protected].
In your request, include the person’s full name, email address, a link to their profile, proof of death such as a death certificate or obituary, and documentation showing your relationship to them. Once submitted, Pinterest will review the information and assist with deleting the account.
How to Close a YouTube Account When Someone Dies
To close a deceased person's YouTube account, you must submit a request to Google, since YouTube is owned by Google. This process requires documentation such as a death certificate and proof that you’re authorized to act on behalf of the deceased, like legal papers showing you’re an executor or next of kin. Once received, Google will review the information and may disable the account to prevent unauthorized use or charges.
Checklist Box and How Caily Helps
Once account deletions are requested and confirmed, you’ll have taken a major step toward closing loops and protecting your loved one’s legacy. This process can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone.
Caily helps families stay organized during life transitions, offering tools for secure document storage, task tracking, and shared responsibilities across your support system. Whether you're working through estate tasks or managing ongoing care, Caily makes it easier to coordinate, communicate, and move forward with clarity.
Checklist Box: Accounts and Subscriptions to Cancel After Someone Dies
- Bank & financial accounts
- Credit cards
- Streaming services (Netflix, Hulu, etc.)
- Shopping accounts (Amazon, Etsy)
- Phone, internet, utility services
- Social media (Facebook, Instagram, X/Twitter)
- Email and cloud storage
- Subscriptions (boxes, wellness, magazines)
- Insurance providers
- Loyalty/travel programs
- Government programs (Social Security, Medicare)
Need help staying on top of what’s done and what’s still pending? Caily keeps your family's to-dos, documents, and care details in one secure place, so nothing slips through the cracks.
FAQs About Closing Accounts After Death
How to close a Facebook account when someone dies?
Go to Facebook’s Memorialization Request Page. You’ll need a death certificate and a link to the account.
How to close a bank account when someone dies?
If you’re the executor, submit the death certificate and legal proof of your role to the bank. If probate is required, the account may remain frozen until it’s completed.
How to close an irrevocable trust after death?
The trustee must distribute remaining assets, file final tax returns, and officially terminate the trust. Contact an estate attorney for help if needed.
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