Managing Digital Accounts and Subscriptions After a Death in Sweden
Managing Digital Accounts and Subscriptions After a Death in Sweden
When someone dies in Sweden, their digital life does not stop. Streaming services, cloud storage, social media accounts, email, mobile phone contracts, and dozens of other subscriptions keep running — and keep charging the estate's bank accounts or credit cards. If no one intervenes, these small recurring charges add up over the months it takes to settle a Swedish estate.
Finding All Active Subscriptions
The deceased's bank and credit card statements are your best starting point. Request statements from the bank's bereavement department showing recurring transactions for the 3-6 months before death. Look for:
- Streaming services (Spotify, Netflix, HBO Max, YouTube Premium)
- Cloud storage (iCloud, Google One, Dropbox)
- Software subscriptions (Adobe, Microsoft 365, antivirus)
- Mobile phone and internet contracts (Telia, Tele2, Tre, Telenor)
- News and media subscriptions (Aftonbladet, DN, The Guardian, NYT)
- Gaming services (PlayStation Plus, Xbox Game Pass, Steam)
- App Store and Google Play recurring purchases
The funeral director's custody certificate (vårdnadsintyg) allows you to redirect the deceased's mail, which may reveal additional accounts through paper invoices or notifications.
Cancelling Swedish-Specific Services
Several services are uniquely Swedish and may not be familiar to foreign executors:
BankID: Already deactivated automatically when the death is registered with Skatteverket. No action needed.
Swish: Tied to BankID and the mobile number. Deactivated automatically when BankID is revoked.
Mobile phone contracts: Swedish mobile contracts with Telia, Tele2, Tre, or Telenor must be cancelled by contacting the provider with the death certificate. Keep the phone number active temporarily if it is needed for two-factor authentication (2FA) on other accounts.
Personnummer-linked services: Many Swedish services are tied to the personnummer. Once the death is registered, some services detect the change automatically. Others require manual cancellation with a copy of the death certificate.
International Platform Procedures
Major tech platforms have specific processes for deceased users:
Google: The Inactive Account Manager lets users pre-designate someone to receive account data. If this was not set up, next of kin can request account closure or data access through Google's deceased user process, which requires a death certificate and proof of relationship.
Apple/iCloud: Apple's Digital Legacy program (if configured) grants access to a Legacy Contact. Otherwise, request account closure through Apple Support with a death certificate and court order (the registered bouppteckning typically suffices as proof of executor status).
Facebook/Instagram (Meta): Accounts can be memorialized (frozen as a tribute) or deleted entirely. A pre-designated Legacy Contact can manage a memorialized account. Without one, next of kin can request memorialization or removal.
Microsoft: Next of kin can request access to the deceased's Outlook, OneDrive, and other Microsoft accounts by submitting a death certificate and proof of relationship.
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Protecting Important Data Before Closing Accounts
Before cancelling anything, consider whether the accounts contain data the estate or family needs:
- Photos and videos in cloud storage (Google Photos, iCloud, Dropbox)
- Important documents in email or cloud drives
- Financial records in banking apps or accounting software
- Cryptocurrency wallets or exchange accounts (these can hold significant value)
Download and preserve this data before requesting account closure. Once an account is deleted, the data is typically unrecoverable.
The Autogiro and Card-on-File Problem
Swedish autogiro (direct debit) payments tied to the deceased's bank account do not stop automatically. International subscriptions charged to a credit or debit card also continue until the card expires or is cancelled.
Contact the bank to:
- Cancel all active autogiro mandates
- Cancel or freeze the deceased's debit and credit cards
- Request a list of merchants that charged the cards in the past 12 months
This stops the bleeding while you work through individual subscription cancellations.
For a complete digital estate checklist — including service-by-service cancellation procedures and a template letter for requesting account closure — see the Sweden Expat Death Guide.
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