Estate planning as a LinkedIn account holder
LinkedIn Corporation (Microsoft) reviews transfer requests for accounts individually upon receipt of documentation
OverviewWhen someone dies
LinkedIn Help Center
WebsiteVisit website→
LinkedIn Help Center
WebsiteSubmit claim online →
(General customer service)
Verified Apr 2026
LinkedIn is the dominant professional networking platform (owned by Microsoft) with over 1 billion members. A LinkedIn account holds the professional profile, connections, endorsements, recommendations, published articles, and Premium subscription status. LinkedIn offers two pathways for deceased members: memorialization (preserves profile as a memorial) or closure (permanent deletion). LinkedIn will NOT grant account access or share passwords under any circumstances. Premium subscriptions are automatically cancelled upon memorialization, except Apple-purchased subscriptions which must be cancelled through Apple. Company Pages can become orphaned if the deceased was the sole admin.
LinkedIn Corporation (Microsoft) reviews transfer requests for LinkedIn accounts on a case-by-case basis after the account holder's death. Approval is at the company's sole discretion, and documentation requirements must be met before any transfer is considered.
What happens at death
LinkedIn offers two pathways: memorialization (preserves profile as memorial, locks all access) or closure (permanent deletion within 30 days). Anyone can request memorialization with supporting documentation. Only authorized representatives with court-issued legal documents can request closure. LinkedIn will NOT disclose usernames or passwords to anyone, including family members, under any circumstances. When memorialized, a memorial badge appears on the profile, all LinkedIn products are cancelled, all sessions expire, and third-party connections are terminated. Users can still view posts and content but cannot interact with the profile.
How to protect your LinkedIn accounts
LinkedIn Corporation (Microsoft) does not guarantee transfer of accounts after death. Lifetime planning provides options for managing accounts and controlling who has access to them.
6 lifetime planning steps for your LinkedIn accounts:
1
Maintain at least 2 super admins on any LinkedIn Company Page you manage. If the sole admin dies, the page becomes orphaned and recovery requires a current employee with a company email to reclaim it.
2
Export your LinkedIn data periodically while logged in. Go to Settings & Privacy > Data Privacy to download your connections, messages, and profile data. LinkedIn will not export data for a deceased user.
3
Document your LinkedIn credentials for your executor. While LinkedIn refuses to grant account access, having credentials allows the executor to download data, manage settings, and export contacts before requesting memorialization.
4
If your LinkedIn profile represents significant professional reputation or thought leadership, consider memorialization over closure to preserve your published articles and professional legacy.
5
Cancel Premium/Sales Navigator if it provides no ongoing value. LinkedIn automatically cancels upon memorialization, but Apple-purchased subscriptions continue billing until cancelled through Apple.
6
Be aware that LinkedIn connections and recommendations have no transferable value. The network is tied to the individual account and cannot be exported to another person's account.
Family sharing
LinkedIn accounts are non-transferable. There is no family sharing, delegate access, or account succession mechanism. The only options after death are memorialization or closure. LinkedIn Company Pages can have multiple admins, which is the only continuity mechanism: if the deceased was one of several admins, remaining admins retain access. If the deceased was the sole admin, the Page is considered inactively managed, and a current employee with a verified work email may be granted admin access by following the steps at linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/a569092.
When someone dies
Handling LinkedIn accounts after a death
Transfer is handled on a case-by-case basis, 7-step process, and 3 required documents.
View details →There is no beneficiary designation option for LinkedIn. This means accounts cannot be directed to a specific person through the program itself, unlike traditional financial accounts.
Sources
Data sourced from LinkedIn Corporation (Microsoft) primary sources (5 pages reviewed). How we research.
LinkedIn Help Center
WebsiteVisit website→
LinkedIn Help Center
WebsiteSubmit claim online →
(General customer service)
Verified Apr 2026