Articles

Explore clear, step-by-step guidance for planning ahead and for handling digital responsibilities after a loss.

Start after a death

A person reviewing documents on a table while preparing a digital legacy plan.

Do This First When a Loved One Dies: Managing Digital Accounts

A practical first-steps guide for preserving access, gathering records, and avoiding digital mistakes during the first phase after a death.

Updated: 2026-10-11

How to Secure a Loved One's Online Banking and Subscription Accounts

Step-by-step help for locating accounts, stopping fraud, notifying providers, and closing online banking and subscription services after a death.

Updated: 2026-10-10

A woman organizes papers beside a laptop and writes in a notebook.

How to Find a Loved One's Online Accounts After a Death

Build a private account inventory after a death using records you may review. Prioritize important accounts, record unknowns and plan the next request.

Updated: 2026-10-11

Two relatives approaching the entrance to a funeral home.

How to Choose a Funeral Home

Compare funeral homes by services, communication and written costs. Use a practical calling checklist to find a provider that fits your family's needs.

Updated: 2026-10-11

Two paper estimates and a calculator arranged for comparison on a blue surface.

How to Compare Funeral Quotes: What's Included and What Costs Extra

Compare funeral quotes for the same services. Check exclusions, third-party charges, estimated costs and payment terms before agreeing to arrangements.

Updated: 2026-10-11

Two adults speaking with a funeral director in a quiet office.

Your First Meeting With a Funeral Director: What to Bring and Ask

Prepare for your first meeting with a funeral director. Bring wishes, key information and questions about decisions, costs, paperwork and next steps.

Updated: 2026-10-11

A simple blue ceramic urn with a small green branch on a pale stone ledge.

Choosing a Direct Cremation Provider: Questions to Ask First

Check what direct cremation includes, who carries out the care and cremation, how authorization works, and how the ashes will be returned to your family.

Updated: 2026-10-11

Phone and account access

Illustration of a dove and a lock, representing compassionate account access.

How to Access a Deceased Person's Online Accounts

How to gather documents, request lawful access, work with providers, and protect privacy when managing a deceased person's online accounts.

Updated: 2026-10-11

An illustrated smartphone with wings among soft clouds.

What Happens to a Phone Number When Someone Dies?

What usually happens to a cell phone number after death, when families can keep it, and how to avoid losing access to bank alerts, account recovery, and two-factor codes.

Updated: 2026-10-11

A family reviewing instructions to close a loved one's email account on a large screen.

Handle a Deceased Person's Email Account

Compare Gmail, Outlook and Yahoo options after a death, including data requests, account closure, documents and connected services.

Updated: 2026-10-10

A person's hands holding a phone with a dark screen beside a closed folder and glasses.

A Loved One's iPhone Is Locked: What Can You Do?

Understand the difference between an iPhone passcode, Apple Account access and Activation Lock before requesting data or erasing a loved one's device.

Updated: 2026-10-10

Hands arrange papers in a green folder beside glasses and a pen.

Documents Needed to Close Online Accounts After a Death

Prepare an online-account request after a death: identify the account, check proof of death and authority, protect documents and record the response.

Updated: 2026-10-10

Save photos and files

A mature woman listening to a phone through earbuds at a kitchen table.

How to Save a Loved One's Voicemail Before Cancelling Their Phone

Save a loved one's voicemail as an audio file, check the copy and keep a backup before changing a phone, SIM or mobile account.

Updated: 2026-10-10

Hands arranging printed family photographs beside a laptop and a storage drive.

How to Preserve Photos and Videos After a Death

Find family photos, distinguish synced libraries from backups, save authorized copies and check your files before closing cloud accounts.

Updated: 2026-10-11

What Happens to WhatsApp When Someone Dies?

Learn what to preserve from WhatsApp after a death, how to check exported chats and voice messages, and what to consider before changing a phone number.

Updated: 2026-10-11

A video camera on a tripod at the back of an empty memorial room.

Online Obituaries and Funeral Livestreams: What to Ask the Funeral Home

Ask who can see an online obituary or funeral livestream, how recordings and tributes can be saved, and what happens when hosting or access ends.

Updated: 2026-10-11

Memorialize or close accounts

A stone memorial bearing a Facebook-shaped letter f.

Memorialize or Close a Facebook Account

How to choose between memorialization and deletion, what each option preserves, and what families should prepare before they submit a Facebook request.

Updated: 2026-10-11