What happens to Facebook accounts when the owner dies
Meta Platforms, Inc. has a formal process for transferring accounts after an account holder dies
Facebook Help Center
Request to Memorialize or Remove an Account
No published processing timeline. Meta reviews requests on a rolling basis and may request additional documentation. A Legacy Contact, if designated before death, can act on the memorialized profile immediately with no Meta review required. There is no deadline for submitting memorialization or removal requests.
Facebook offers two options for a deceased user's account: memorialization (the default) or permanent removal. When memorialized, the word "Remembering" appears above the person's name, the profile is preserved for its existing audience, no one can log in, and the account is removed from "People You May Know," birthday reminders, event invites, and ad targeting. A Legacy Contact, if designated in advance, can take limited management actions on the memorialized profile (pinned tribute post, profile and cover photo updates, responding to friend requests, moderating tributes, and -- only if pre-authorized -- downloading a copy of shared content). The Legacy Contact cannot log in, read private messages, remove past posts or friends, or change privacy settings. Verified immediate family or an executor/administrator may request permanent removal instead, and if a Legacy Contact has been set, only that Legacy Contact can request removal. The Meta Terms of Service state that the account is a non-transferable license: users must not "transfer your account to anyone else (without our permission)," and "You will not transfer any of your rights or obligations under these Terms to anyone else without our consent." Private messages are never released to anyone after death; Meta cites the federal Stored Communications Act.
How to request a transfer
To request a transfer of Facebook accounts after an account holder's death, follow these steps:
- •Memorialization (default): submit at facebook.com/help/1111566045566400 (Request to Memorialize or Remove an Account). An obituary link or death certificate is usually sufficient.
- •Permanent removal: submit at facebook.com/help/contact/228813257197480 (Special Request for Medically Incapacitated or Deceased Person's Account). Requires proof of death AND proof of authority.
- •Proof of death: death certificate, obituary link, memorial card, or other confirmation of passing
- •For removal requests: proof of relationship (birth certificate, death certificate listing relationship) OR proof of authority (will naming executor, letters of administration, court order)
- •If a Legacy Contact was set, only the Legacy Contact can request removal
Required Documents
- Proof of death (death certificate, obituary link, or memorial card) -- required for both memorialization and removal
- For removal: proof of relationship to the deceased OR proof of authority (will naming executor, letters of administration, court order)
- Government-issued ID of the requester
- The deceased's full name as listed on their Facebook profile and, when available, the profile URL
Timeline
No published processing timeline. Meta reviews requests on a rolling basis and may request additional documentation. A Legacy Contact, if designated before death, can act on the memorialized profile immediately with no Meta review required. There is no deadline for submitting memorialization or removal requests.
Frequently asked questions
Facebook either memorializes the account (adds "Remembering" to the name, prevents login, removes it from suggestions and ads) or permanently deletes it on request. If a Legacy Contact was designated, that person can manage the memorialized profile with no Facebook review. If no Legacy Contact exists, verified family members can request memorialization with an obituary or death certificate. Permanent removal additionally requires proof of authority such as letters of administration or a will naming the requester as executor.
No. Facebook does not release private messages to anyone after death -- not the Legacy Contact, not family, not executors -- citing the federal Stored Communications Act. Verified family members or authorized representatives can request a copy of shared content (photos, posts, videos) through the Special Request form, but private messages are never part of that package.
There is no formal bereavement or estate recovery process for ad account balances. If the deceased was the sole admin of a Business Page or ad account, access is effectively lost. Prepaid ad balances have no documented refund process for estates. Contact Meta Business Support directly with the business entity's legal documentation.
If the sole admin of a Facebook Group dies and no other admins exist, the group becomes unmanaged -- no one can approve new members, moderate posts, or update group settings. Facebook does not automatically transfer admin rights. Family members or executors can contact Facebook Support with legal documentation to request intervention, but there is no guaranteed recovery process. The best prevention is to add at least one additional admin while the group owner is alive.
Active Marketplace listings are tied to the Facebook account. If the account is memorialized, no one can log in to manage or remove active listings, though they will eventually expire. If the account is removed, all Marketplace listings and activity are deleted along with the account. There is no process for an estate to manage or fulfill outstanding Marketplace transactions.
Facebook Stars (each worth $0.01 when redeemed by the creator) are part of Meta's unified Content Monetization Program. If the creator has unpaid earnings above the payout threshold and a linked bank account or PayPal that remains active, payments may continue processing on the normal monthly schedule until the account is memorialized or removed. There is no documented estate claims process for unreceived creator earnings, so executors should coordinate quickly with the heir who owns the linked payout account.
Once transferred, accounts are subject to the program's standard terms. Having the deceased account holder's details documented in advance makes the transfer process significantly easier for the family.
Sources
Data sourced from Meta Platforms, Inc. primary sources (17 pages reviewed). How we research.
Facebook Help Center
Request to Memorialize or Remove an Account
No published processing timeline. Meta reviews requests on a rolling basis and may request additional documentation. A Legacy Contact, if designated before death, can act on the memorialized profile immediately with no Meta review required. There is no deadline for submitting memorialization or removal requests.
