Estate Planning Resource

Legacy Contact Directory

What happens to your digital accounts when you're gone? Most major platforms have a process for handling accounts of deceased users — but they're not easy to find. This directory collects them in one place.

Fern & Echo helps you document your digital life so your loved ones know what accounts exist and how to access them. This page lists the legacy contact and account closure processes for the platforms most people use. Consider documenting your account details in your vault and sharing this resource with your executor.

Important: Most platforms require proof of death (death certificate) and proof of relationship (e.g. executor documentation, next of kin letter). Requirements vary — always check the platform's current policy as these processes change. Links below go directly to each platform's official policy or request form.

Social & Communication

Google

Gmail · YouTube · Drive · Photos

Google's Inactive Account Manager lets you decide in advance what happens to your account. Family members can also submit a request to close or access the account of a deceased person.

Deceased user request →

Apple

iCloud · App Store · Apple ID

Apple's Digital Legacy program allows you to designate Legacy Contacts who can access your account data after you pass. Without this set up, access requires a court order.

Digital Legacy program →

Facebook & Messenger

Meta · Facebook · Messenger

Facebook allows memorialization of accounts or removal upon request from a verified family member. You can also set a Legacy Contact to manage your memorialized profile.

Memorialization request →

Instagram

Meta · Instagram

Instagram accounts can be memorialized or removed. Immediate family members or verified representatives can submit a special request.

Deceased person request →

Twitter / X

X Corp

X allows authorized individuals such as a verified immediate family member or estate representative to request deactivation of a deceased user's account.

Deceased account policy →

Microsoft · LinkedIn

LinkedIn allows family members or colleagues to report a deceased member's profile for removal or memorialization.

Deceased member request →

Meta · WhatsApp

WhatsApp accounts are tied to a phone number and are not transferable.

Account deactivation →

Microsoft & Productivity

Microsoft

Outlook · OneDrive · Xbox · Teams

Microsoft has a next of kin process that allows family members to request account closure or retrieval of specific data. A death certificate and relationship proof are required.

Next of kin process →

Dropbox

Dropbox · Dropbox Business

Dropbox allows authorized representatives to request account closure and, in some cases, file retrieval for deceased users. Contact Dropbox support directly.

Account closure →

GitHub

Microsoft · GitHub

GitHub allows family members or estate representatives to request memorialization of a deceased developer's profile, or to request removal or content transfer with appropriate documentation.

Deceased user policy →

Financial & Payments

PayPal

PayPal · Venmo

PayPal requires executors or estate administrators to contact their resolution center to close a deceased user's account and retrieve any remaining balance. A death certificate and executor documentation are required.

Deceased account closure →

Venmo

PayPal · Venmo

Venmo's process for deceased accounts requires contacting support directly. Remaining balances may be transferable to the estate with appropriate documentation.

Deceased user support →

Coinbase

Coinbase · Cryptocurrency

Coinbase has a dedicated estate process for transferring or liquidating digital assets held in a deceased person's account. This requires executor documentation and identity verification.

Digital asset estate process →

Robinhood

Robinhood · Investments

Robinhood allows estate representatives to transfer or liquidate investments held in a deceased person's account. Contact their support team with executor documentation.

Estate account transfer →

Streaming & Entertainment

Amazon

Amazon · Prime · Kindle · AWS

Amazon accounts are non-transferable per their terms of service. Family members can contact Amazon to close the account. Digital purchases (Kindle, Prime Video) are licensed and cannot be inherited.

Account closure →

Netflix

Netflix has no legacy program — accounts are non-transferable. Family members should simply cancel the subscription to stop billing. No special process is required.

Cancel subscription →

Spotify

Spotify accounts are non-transferable. Family members can contact Spotify support to close the account and stop any recurring billing.

Account closure →

Disney+

Disney · Hulu · ESPN+

Disney+ accounts are non-transferable. Contact Disney+ support or simply cancel the subscription through the account settings to stop billing.

Contact support →

Other Platforms

Reddit allows family members to request account deletion for deceased users. Contact Reddit support with appropriate documentation.

Contact support →

Not seeing a platform you need? For platforms not listed here, search for "[platform name] deceased account" or "[platform name] estate access" to find their current policy. Most platforms have a support contact form that handles these requests even if they don't have a dedicated page.