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.
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We re-checked our most-read guides against GOV.UK and the other official sources in September 2026. This one was not among them, so nobody has confirmed its figures, deadlines or process steps since it was written. Treat it as a starting point and confirm anything that matters on GOV.UK before you act on it.
When someone dies, notifying Microsoft is one of the key tasks for the executor or next of kin. This guide explains exactly who to contact, what to say, what documents you will need, and how long Microsoft takes to process a bereavement notification.
Microsoft bereavement contact details
Online: Microsoft Support — when someone has died
Last verified: June 2026
Spotted a change? Email our team if a number, email, or link on this page is out of date and we'll update it straight away.
Microsoft has no bereavement phone line and states you do not need to contact them to report a death. Read their support article on accessing services when someone has died. The primary concern is cancelling subscriptions (Microsoft 365, Xbox Game Pass, OneDrive) and recovering or deleting data as appropriate.
Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365), Xbox Game Pass, and OneDrive storage are subscription services. Cancel these via the Microsoft account at account.microsoft.com if you have access, or contact Microsoft Support to cancel without account access.
In the UK, Microsoft generally will not close the account for you. If you have the account credentials, close it yourself (you can reopen it within 60 days). If you don't, cancel any billing — Outlook.com and OneDrive are frozen after 1 year of inactivity and the account is deleted after 2 years. Gaining access to the account contents requires a court order or subpoena, so recover important documents first if you have access.
Before closing the account, try to recover any important documents stored in OneDrive or attached to Outlook emails. Once the account is closed, data cannot be recovered.
Have multiple certified copies of the death certificate ready. Banks and financial institutions each require an original or certified copy — you cannot usually pass a single copy between organisations. See our guide to how many death certificates you need.
Microsoft does not publish a processing time, so we do not give one. Ask when you notify them, and ask for a reference so you can chase it.
Accounts or services are usually frozen until the estate is administered, which means no new transactions can be authorised.
Microsoft accounts often serve as the login for Windows computers. Be aware that closing the Microsoft account may affect access to locally installed Microsoft 365 applications. Consider whether the devices need to be deactivated separately.
Once Microsoft receives your notification and confirms receipt, the account or service will be frozen and no new transactions will be authorised. Estate administration can then begin.
Microsoft will confirm receipt of your notification and advise you of any next steps required to close or transfer the account or policy. Keep a record of all correspondence and reference numbers for the estate file.
Do not delay notifying Microsoft
Direct debits and standing orders may continue to be charged after death. Some organisations treat the estate as the debtor for any charges incurred before notification. Notifying Microsoft promptly protects the estate from unnecessary costs.
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