Today, most of us lead very online lives, engaging with numerous websites, apps, and services daily. When a death occurs, closing a loved one’s unused online accounts becomes an important part of estate settlement. As funeral directors in Bradford, Joseph A. Hey & Son aims to guide families through this process with empathy and care.

Why Does Closing Online Accounts Matter?

Some key reasons to formally close online accounts include:

• Avoiding identity theft if inactive accounts are hacked. This protects privacy.
• Stopping automatic billing of subscription or membership fees for services no longer needed. This avoids wasting money.
• Preventing insensitive notifications like birthday reminders which can hurt those in grief.
• Honouring the legacy and wishes of the deceased by designating how accounts are memorialised or deleted.
• Allowing the family space to grieve without ongoing intrusions into their cherished one’s online life. Discontinuing accounts helps provide closure.

Types of accounts commonly requiring closure or management after a death:

• Email accounts and social media profiles like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn
• Online banking accounts, bills payment services, investment accounts with digital access
• Subscription services such as media streaming, food/product deliveries, membership-based websites
• Travel booking sites with logins, loyalty programs, retail accounts
• Cloud storage services that may contain important documents and files to retrieve
• Paid app or software access; auction, shopping and classified accounts
• Business/work-related accounts that will need administration

Best Practices for Closing Online Accounts

When you are ready, follow these steps to responsibly close online accounts:

• Compile a Complete List – Document all potential existing online accounts and their usernames. Review devices, paper records, bills and statements for clues that may identify accounts.
• Contact Each Provider – Reach out to the customer service team of each company identified to formally close accounts. Have the account number, username, and verification details like password or PIN available. Explain the situation with sensitivity.
• Carefully Review and Transfer Valuables – For accounts like email and cloud storage, first download or save any files, photos or communications you want to retain. These may have immense sentimental value. Then back up this data securely.
• Temporarily Deactivate Accounts Rather Than Deleting – For active accounts that hold assets or which executors may require temporary access to, like online banking or investment platforms, deactivate the account temporarily rather than requesting permanent deletion. This avoids losing important access and data.
• Permanently Delete Remaining Low-Priority Accounts – Once you have saved any crucial data from an account, request for it to be permanently deleted. Cancel any recurring payments or subscriptions associated with it.
• Update Shared Contacts – Inform all mutual friends, relatives and contacts you had in common with the deceased about account closures. This prevents confused attempts by others to interact with disabled accounts.
• Check Repeatedly for New Accounts – Occasionally search the person’s name online to catch any lower priority accounts you may have missed initially. Shut these down as well.

For any accounts holding significant assets, speak with legal counsel on proper procedures regarding ownership transfer and estate distribution. Our funeral directors are here to consult on how to ethically settle both personal and professional online accounts.

Additional Guidance on Specific Accounts

Special considerations for some common account types:

• Social Media Profiles – Memorialise, deactivate or delete based on account policies and family preferences. Transfer legacy contacts to an executor’s account first if desired.
• Email Accounts – Set up auto-replies with funeral details and contact information before deactivation. Save any special communications using services like Google Takeout.
• Online Photo/Video Albums – Download all albums/media to preserve memories. You may be able to request a physical media copy.
• Online Businesses – Consult partner agreements and seek legal advice on transferring ownership, redirecting traffic, fulfilling obligations etc.
• Gaming Accounts – Notify any online friends/communities. Donate virtual assets or currency if possible.
• Cloud Storage – Ensure you have account credentials to fully access and download important documents and files before deletion.

Seeking Legal Advice on Digital Estate Planning

For accounts holding significant digital assets or requiring ownership transfer, estate lawyers will typically recommend:

• Locating the deceased’s estate planning documents, as online accounts may be addressed.
• Being aware of any appointed digital executors with account access authority.
• Confirming all accounts by cross-referencing service bills and records.
• Reading provider terms thoroughly before attempting to alter accounts or transfer logins.
• Keeping detailed notes on account contents and downloads for inventory/accounting purposes.

Joseph A. Hey & Son: Experienced Funeral Directors Providing Guidance

Here at Joseph A. Hey & Son funeral home, our experienced funeral directors understand how difficult it can be to wrap up someone’s life while planning their funeral. Thanks to our experienced team, we can help you to focus on the most important things by taking care of organising the funeral on your behalf. Our sympathetic, supportive team is here to help, so don’t hesitate to get in touch today. You can reach our supportive team directly by calling 0800 783 2225, or through our simple online contact form.