Farra is a death administration assistant for UK families. Get step-by-step guidance for registering a death, applying for probate, notifying banks, and managing bereavement admin. From essential documents to practical checklists, Farra simplifies estate paperwork and funeral-related tasks so you can focus on what matters.
Contact each platform with the death certificate. Facebook and Instagram offer memorialisation. Email providers allow data downloads but not ongoing access. Cryptocurrency requires private keys—without them, funds are permanently lost. Most digital purchases cannot be inherited due to licensing.
Have more questions on UK death administration? Let Farra help.
Digital assets are anything of value that exists only in digital form or online. They include:
The average person has 100+ online accounts. Most executors are overwhelmed trying to find and close them all.
Each platform handles deceased users differently:
Two options:
Facebook allows users to appoint a legacy contact whilst alive who can manage the memorialized account (but not read messages or log in).
Can be memorialized (freezes the account) or deleted. Requires proof of death. Instagram doesn't allow anyone to log into a deceased person's account.
Verified immediate family can request deactivation by submitting:
Twitter doesn't offer memorialization - accounts can only be deactivated/deleted.
Accounts are removed when LinkedIn is notified of a death. You can submit a request with the person's profile URL and proof of death.
Immediate family can request account closure by contacting support with death certificate and relationship proof.
Important: You cannot access a deceased person's social media accounts, even if you know the password. Most terms of service prohibit sharing login credentials. Focus on memorialization or deletion through official channels.
Email is critical for estate administration as password reset emails and account notifications go there. But accessing it is difficult.
Google offers an Inactive Account Manager where users can specify what happens to their data after inactivity. For deceased users:
Apple introduced Legacy Contact in iOS 15.2:
Microsoft typically requires a court order to grant access to a deceased person's account. They won't provide passwords or account access based solely on a death certificate.
Yahoo will close accounts upon verification of death but won't provide access to emails. Accounts are permanently deleted.
Digital photos and documents are often scattered across multiple cloud services.
Part of Google account - same rules apply. Data can potentially be requested through the deceased user process, but access isn't guaranteed.
Accessible through Apple's Legacy Contact feature if set up in advance. Otherwise requires court order.
Family can request account access by submitting death certificate, proof of relationship, and proof of authority (e.g., probate document). Dropbox reviews case-by-case.
Same as Microsoft accounts - typically requires court order for access.
Best practice: If you know the deceased had important photos or documents in the cloud, try to access their physical devices (phone, laptop, tablet) if you have permission from the executor. If devices have saved passwords, you may be able to download files before accounts are closed.
Banks will freeze accounts when notified of death. According to MoneyHelper, to access:
To close a PayPal account:
Contact each platform's bereavement team. Most require:
Investments will be valued as of date of death for inheritance tax purposes and can be transferred or sold.
Cryptocurrency is one of the most difficult digital assets to handle after death.
Cryptocurrency held in a private wallet (not an exchange) is only accessible with the private key or seed phrase.
Without the key, the cryptocurrency is lost forever.
There is no "forgot password" recovery. There is no customer service to call. No death certificate will help. If the deceased didn't document their private keys, the crypto is irretrievable.
If the deceased held crypto on an exchange (Coinbase, Binance, Kraken), you can access it:
Reality check: Billions of pounds in cryptocurrency are permanently lost each year because people die without sharing their private keys. If you own crypto, document your wallets and keys in a secure place your executor can access.
Monthly subscriptions continue charging unless cancelled. Check bank statements for recurring payments:
Most can be cancelled by:
When you "buy" a digital game, book, or film, you don't actually own it—you licence the right to access it. These licences almost always die with the user.
Steam: Accounts cannot be transferred. Games cannot be inherited. Account will be closed upon notification of death.
PlayStation/Xbox: Similar - accounts are non-transferable. Digital game libraries die with the account.
Kindle/Amazon: E-books are licensed, not owned. They cannot be left in a will or transferred. Account closed upon death.
iTunes/Apple: Music, films, and books are licensed. Cannot be inherited.
The only digital purchases with any inheritance value are NFTs and crypto assets (if you have the private keys).
Domain names and websites have actual value and can be transferred.
Domains are property and can be inherited:
If the deceased had a website:
Technically, accessing someone else's computer or online account without permission is a criminal offence in the UK under the Computer Misuse Act 1990, even if you're a family member.
In practice:
The deceased's data is still protected under GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. Companies can refuse data requests to protect the deceased's privacy, even from executors.
Digital assets with financial value include:
These must be valued and included in inheritance tax calculations.
If you want your executor to be able to handle your digital assets, create a plan now:
List every online account you have:
If you own crypto:
Store all passwords in one secure place (1Password, LastPass, Bitwarden). Give your executor:
Include in your will: "I appoint [name] as my digital executor to manage my online accounts and digital assets according to my digital legacy plan."
Don't put passwords in your will (it becomes public). Instead:
Dealing with digital assets is just one part of administering an estate. Executors must also:
Farra guides you through the entire estate administration process, including tracking digital accounts alongside traditional assets. We provide personalised task lists, letter templates for every organisation, and step-by-step guidance for executors.
Probate needed if estate has property or over £50K. Joint accounts exempt. Check bank thresholds: HSBC £50K, smaller banks £15K.
Complete checklist of documents needed for probate in the UK. From death certificates to asset valuations - everything executors need to gather for probate applications.
Learn how to write a legally valid will in the UK. Legal requirements, what to include, DIY vs solicitor costs, and common mistakes to avoid.
Complete UK inheritance tax guide 2026/27. Nil-rate band £325K, RNRB £175K, 40% rate. 7-year gifting rule, exemptions, and how to calculate IHT.
Find out if you need probate in the UK. Property always needs probate. Small estates under £5K-£50K may not (depends on bank). Joint assets exempt.
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