Closing accounts is among the tasks that must be attended to after the passing of a loved one. However, if you lack access to the email account, this process can be challenging, as you may need to contact customer support for assistance in closing the account. Continue reading to learn more about accessing a deceased person’s email account and the steps involved in closing or deleting an account following their passing.
Why is it important to close or delete an email account after someone passes away?
Closing or deleting an email account after the death of an individual serves several purposes. It notifies companies and others that the account is no longer active, prompting them to seek alternative means of communication if necessary, especially in the case of important emails. Deleting or closing an email account also safeguards the deceased person’s identity and prevents unauthorized access to sensitive information.
Is access to the email account necessary for closure?
In most cases, access to the email account is not required to close it. However, you will likely need certain documentation to facilitate the closure process. It is advisable to gather the necessary documentation before contacting customer support.
How to access a deceased person’s email account
If you possess the account’s password, accessing it is as simple as logging in using the email and password combination. If the password is unknown, you can check for password information in a password manager or search for any written records left by the deceased. Keep in mind that gaining access to the account without prior access is often challenging. If you need to access a deceased person’s email account, it is recommended to contact the respective email provider to inquire about the required forms and documentation for transferring control of the account. In most cases, the option provided will be to close or deactivate the account rather than directly accessing its contents.
Preparations before contacting customer support
To ensure a smoother process, there are a few steps you should take before reaching out to customer support:
Locate the email addresses
If you are familiar with the email address, locating it is straightforward. However, if you are uncertain about the email addresses that need to be closed, consider the following methods:
1. Check your own inbox for emails received from the deceased person’s email address.
2. Access various accounts that you currently have control over, navigate to the “Settings” or “My Account” section, and identify the email address listed there.
3. Check any bills associated with the deceased person for their email address.
Update email addresses for relevant accounts
If you have access to billing accounts that still require closure or ongoing access, it is advisable to update the email address on those accounts to one that you are not closing and can easily access.
Gather the necessary documentation
The specific documentation required for closing the account may vary depending on the email service provider. In general, you will need the following documents:
- – A copy of the death certificate
- – The full name of the deceased person
- – The email address associated with the account
- – A copy of your identification, demonstrating your relationship to the deceased (such as a driver’s license or photo ID)
It is recommended to have these documents readily available before contacting customer support, simplifying the process and ensuring a smoother resolution.
How to close a deceased individual’s email account
Once you’ve gathered the documentation and know the emails that have to be closed, it’s time to contact support.
How to close a Gmail account after someone dies
If you have access to the account and can log in, here are the steps to close a Gmail account:
- Head to the ‘Data & Privacy’ section in your Google account.
- Scroll down to ‘Your data & privacy options’.
- Click ‘More Options’
- Click ‘Delete your Google Account’
- Follow the steps given on the account deletion page.
If you do not have access to the account, fill out all the fields on this form. You’ll need the following information:
- – Full name of the decedent
- – Email address of the decedent
- – Full name of relative/legal representative
- – Email address of relative/legal representative
- – Your relationship to the decedent
- – Decedent’s country & zip code
- – Decedent’s date of death
- – A scan of your driver’s license or ID
- – A scan of the decedent’s death certificate
How to close an Apple Mail account after someone dies
If you have access to the account and can log in, here are the steps to close an Apple account:
- Sign into Apple’s ‘Data & Privacy’ page here.
- Click ‘Request to delete your account’ under the Delete your account section.
- Follow the instructions given by Apple in order to delete the account. If you do not have access to the account, you’ll need to contact Apple support by phone at 1-800-275-2273. You’ll need the following information:
- The decedent’s Apple ID
- The decedent’s email address
- A copy of the death certificate
How to close an AOL account after someone dies
If you have access to the account and can log in, here are the steps to close a AOL account:
- Sign in to the account deletion page.
- Follow the instructions on the page.
If you do not have access to the account, you’ll need to get in touch with AOL customer support. You’ll likely need the following information:
- – Full name of the decedent
- – Email address of the decedent
- – Full name of relative/legal representative
- – Email address of relative/legal representative
- – Your relationship to the decedent
- – Decedent’s date of death
- – A scan of your driver’s license or ID
- – A scan of the decedent’s death certificate
How to close an Outlook account after someone dies
If you have access to the account and can log in, here are the steps to close an Outlook account:
- Head to the ‘Close your account’ page.
- Sign into the account that you’re trying to delete.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to delete the account.
- Select ‘Mark account for closure’.
If you do not have access to the account, you have a few options. Outlook and OneDrive accounts are automatically frozen after 1 year. Microsoft accounts expire automatically after 2 years of inactivity. If you’d like to, you can wait and these accounts will automatically freeze or expire.
If you want to close the account and not have to wait, you’ll want to contact Microsoft support by contacting them on their support page. You’ll likely need the following information:
- – Full name of the decedent
- – Email address of the decedent
- – Full name of relative/legal representative
- – Email address of relative/legal representative
- – Your relationship to the decedent
- – Decedent’s date of death
- – A scan of your driver’s license or ID
- – A scan of the decedent’s death certificate
Please note: If you are looking for how to delete Hotmail accounts, you’ll follow these steps, as well, since Microsoft controls Hotmail accounts.
How to close a Yahoo account after someone dies
If you have access to the account and can log in, here are the steps to close an Yahoo account:
- Sign into the account closure page.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to delete your account.
If you do not have access to the account, you’ll need to get in touch with AOL customer support. You’ll need the following information:
* A letter stating your request to close the account, that includes the Yahoo ID / email address
* A copy of the document that appoints you as the personal representative, administrator, or executor
* A copy of the death certificate
How to close an Mozilla Thunderbird account after someone dies
If you have access to the account and can log in, here are the steps to close an Mozilla Thunderbird account:
- Go to Account Actions.
- Click the option to remove the account. If you do not have access to the account, you’ll need to contact Mozilla Thunderbird’s support at their support page. You’ll need the following information:
- Full name of the decedent
- Email address of the decedent
- Full name of relative/legal representative
- Email address of relative/legal representative
- Your relationship to the decedent
- Decedent’s date of death
- A scan of your driver’s license or ID
- A scan of the decedent’s death certificate
How to close an Yandex account after someone dies
If you have access to the account and can log in, here are the steps to close an Yandex account:
- Log in to the account and click your name icon in the top right-hand corner.
- Click Account settings.
- Click ‘Delete account’ at the bottom of the page.
- Review the information and follow the instructions to delete your account.
If you do not have access to the account, you’ll need to contact Yandex support at their support page. You’ll need the following information:
- – Full name of the decedent
- – Email address of the decedent
- – Full name of relative/legal representative
- – Email address of relative/legal representative
- – Your relationship to the decedent
- – Decedent’s date of death
- – A scan of your driver’s license or ID
- – A scan of the decedent’s death certificate
How to close an Zoho Mail account after someone dies
If you have access to the account and can log in, here are the steps to close an Zoho account:
- Sign into the account.
- Click Settings and scroll down to ‘Close Account’.
- Click Close Account.
- Follow on-screen prompts and close the account.
If you do not have access to the account, you’ll need to contact Zoho support at their support page. You’ll need the following information:
- – Full name of the decedent
- – Email address of the decedent
- – Full name of relative/legal representative
- – Email address of relative/legal representative
- – Your relationship to the decedent
- – Decedent’s date of death
- – A scan of your driver’s license or ID
- – A scan of the decedent’s death certificate
How to close an ProtonMail account after someone dies
If you have access to the account and can log in, here are the steps to close an ProtonMail account:
- Sign into the account.
- Click Settings and ‘Go to settings’.
- Click Password & recovery.
- Scroll down and click ‘Delete your account’.
- Follow on-screen prompts and close the account.
If you do not have access to the account, you’ll need to contact ProtonMail support at their support page. You’ll need the following information:
- – Full name of the decedent
- – Email address of the decedent
- – Full name of relative/legal representative
- – Email address of relative/legal representative
- – Your relationship to the decedent
- – Decedent’s date of death
- – A scan of your driver’s license or ID
- – A scan of the decedent’s death certificate
How to close an GMX Mail account after someone dies
If you have access to the account and can log in, here are the steps to close an GMX Mail account:
- Log into the account.
- Click Home and ‘My Account’.
- Click Delete Account.
- Enter the password.
- Click Save changes.
If you do not have access to the account, you’ll need to contact GMX Mail support at their support page. You’ll need the following information:
- – Full name of the decedent
- – Email address of the decedent
- – Full name of relative/legal representative
- – Email address of relative/legal representative
- – Your relationship to the decedent
- – Decedent’s date of death
- – A scan of your driver’s license or ID
- – A scan of the decedent’s death certificate
Closing email accounts after someone passes away is important as there may be important documents or information being sent to these emails that are essentially being sent into the void. It’s also helpful to notify companies that the email address is no longer in use.