Practical guide
Digital legacy
Every large platform has its own process. There is no single counter. Below are the official forms with realistic timelines. We do not take referral fees.
Google (Gmail, YouTube, Drive)
- Google: request for a deceased person's account
Two-step process. A death certificate is always required. Full access to mail or Drive is rarely granted; usually only closure.
Apple (iCloud, App Store)
- Apple: Digital Legacy and Legacy Contact
If the deceased set up a Legacy Contact during life, you get access with an access key + certificate. Otherwise a court order is needed.
Meta (Facebook, Instagram)
- Facebook: memorialise or remove an account
A memorialised account stays visible to friends. Removal needs a family member and proof.
- Instagram: memorialise or remove an account
Same approach. No content access, only closure or memorialisation.
Microsoft (Outlook, OneDrive, Xbox)
- Microsoft: close a deceased person's account
Microsoft does not give access to Outlook or OneDrive content. You can only request closure.
- LinkedIn: report a deceased person's profile
You can have the profile removed or memorialised. LinkedIn does not release messages or contacts.
Honest note: for most services you can close or memorialise an account, but rarely view its contents. Plan ahead for your own accounts using the Legacy Contact features in Apple, Google and Facebook.