How to close Google accounts after a loved one passes

For reference, Google accounts include Drive, YouTube, Gmail, Adwords, Google+, Blogger, & Adsense.

First, decide what you want to do with the deceased’s account. Here are a few outcomes that may occur:

1) Do nothing. The deceased’s account will remain as is.

2) Close the account

• Deleting a Google Account will affect all products associated with that account (e.g., Blogger, AdSense, Gmail)

• You can request to delete the account using this link: https://support.google.com/accounts/troubleshooter/6357590 ?hl=en#ts=6357652

• You will need to upload your ID and the deceased person’s death certificate

3) If the deceased set up Inactive Account Manager, you can get access to key files.

Inactive account manager allows users to share specific parts of their account data and notify a Trusted Contact if they’ve been inactive for a certain period of time

• If the deceased set it up, you may get an email from Google that reads something similar to:

  John Doe (john.doe@gmail.com) instructed Google to send you this mail automatically after John stopped using his account.

  John Doe has given you access to the following account data: [+1s/Blogger/Drive/Mail/YouTube] Download John's data here.

4) Submit a request for funds from the deceased user’s AdSense or Wallet account

• You can request funds using this link: https://support.google.com/accounts/troubleshooter/6357590 ?hl=en#ts=6357586

• You will need to upload court-certified letters testamentary, your ID, and the death certificate

5) Obtain specific data from a deceased user’s account

• You can use this link: https://support.google.com/accounts/troubleshooter/6357590 ?hl=en#ts=6357650

• If your request is approved, you will need to get a court order issued in the US. Google will provide you with the language for this.

• You will need to upload your ID and the deceased person’s death certificate.

• They will review your request and notify you of next steps by email.

Note: Google cannot provide passwords or other login details. Any decision to satisfy a request about a deceased user will be made only after they do a careful review.

However, despite it being a violation of the terms and conditions, some people recommend that you can reset the password for the account and use this to log in. This could work if you already have access to the email address or phone number. We are not endorsing this choice, but if recommended by your lawyer, here is the process:

• Click this link: https://accounts.google.com/signin/recovery

• You'll be asked some questions you need to answer, and an email will be sent to you

• If you don’t get an email:

  • (i) Check your Spam or Bulk Mail folders

  • (ii) Add noreply@google.com to your address book

  • (iii) Check all email addresses the deceased might've used to sign up or sign in to their account

• Choose a new password

• If you’re having trouble, you can get more help at this link: https://support.google.com/accounts/troubleshooter/2402620