Documents Needed to Access a Deceased Person's Online Accounts

Many providers ask for documents confirming that the person died and that you have authority to act on their behalf. Some deceased-user requests use a different route, and requirements vary by provider, but the same core documents come up over and over.

Getting these in order before you start contacting platforms saves weeks of back-and-forth.

Certified Death Certificates

The foundation document. Nearly every platform, bank, and government agency requires one.

Requirements: Many providers request a certified copy with a raised seal from the local vital statistics office or department of health. A plain photocopy may be rejected when a certified copy is required. Funeral home death certificates (the ones used internally for cremation or burial) are often rejected by financial institutions and crypto exchanges.

How many: Order at least 10 certified copies. Some institutions require separate certified copies, while many platforms accept a scan; check the requirements before ordering. You'll use death certificates for banks, insurance, credit card companies, the DMV, and online platforms.

Cost: Typically $10–25 per copy depending on the state.

Letters Testamentary (or Letters of Administration)

This is the document that says you're authorized to manage the estate. It comes from the probate court after the will is filed and accepted.

Letters Testamentary are issued when there's a valid will naming you as executor. Letters of Administration are issued when there's no will (intestate) and the court appoints you as personal representative.

Key detail: Many platforms require that the letters be dated within 60 days of submission. If you got Letters Testamentary three months ago, the platform may reject them as stale. You can request a re-issued copy from the probate court.

What these do: They establish your court-appointed authority to manage the estate when a provider requires that proof. Some providers offer a separate deceased-user route; for example, Google may process a request with a death certificate and representative's government ID, while Apple Legacy Contact uses an access key and death certificate.

Small Estate Affidavit

If the estate value falls below your state's simplified probate threshold, a Small Estate Affidavit may substitute for Letters Testamentary.

This is a notarized document declaring that the estate qualifies for simplified administration and listing the qualifying assets. It can avoid full probate when the estate meets the state's requirements.

Acceptance is provider-specific. Coinbase lists a Small Estate Affidavit as one form of probate documentation it accepts; check with other providers before relying on one.

Court Orders (for Content Access)

This is the heavy-duty document you need when a platform refuses to release the actual content of communications (email bodies, private messages, file contents).

Under the Stored Communications Act, platforms are legally prohibited from disclosing communication contents without the account holder's explicit prior consent or a court order. A general executor appointment isn't enough.

What the court order must contain:

• The deceased's name and the specific account(s) at issue
• Your name and your legal authority as executor/representative
• Language confirming that disclosure constitutes "lawful consent" — some platforms (Yahoo, Google) provide the exact phrasing they require

When you need one: Google (for Gmail content), Yahoo (for email content), Microsoft (for Outlook content), and any platform that distinguishes between "catalog" (metadata like sender, date, subject) and "content" (the actual messages).

Your estate attorney files the petition with the probate court. Ask the attorney about that court's current schedule for these petitions.

Government-Issued Photo ID

Your own ID — driver's license, passport, or state ID. Many platforms require it alongside the death certificate to verify your identity and authority.

Kraken requires a complete, high-resolution color copy of the official death certificate. Follow each provider's current instructions for acceptable image formats and resolution.

Getting Organized

Before contacting any platform:

1. Scan everything at high resolution — create a secure digital folder with every document
2. Make a spreadsheet tracking which platforms you've contacted, which documents you sent, and their response
3. Keep originals in a fireproof safe — you'll need them for months
4. Check document expiry — Letters Testamentary must be re-issued if older than 60 days for many platforms

The Digital Estate Toolkit includes a document preparation checklist, platform-by-platform requirements matrix, and pre-formatted cover letters for each major provider.