Estate planning as a Ring account holder

Ring makes internet-connected video doorbells, security cameras, the Ring Alarm system, and Smart Lighting, all managed through the Ring app and tied to a Ring account (which signs in with Amazon credentials). The estate-relevant assets are the physical devices themselves and any recorded video footage stored under a Ring Protect subscription. Ring is owned by Amazon, but device ownership after death is handled through Ring Support and the in-app Request Ownership flow, not through Amazon Bereavement Support.

After a Ring account holder dies, family members can receive the remaining devices through a complimentary transfer process.

devices can be transferred to another person while the Ring account holder is alive.

What happens at death

Ring devices can be transferred to a family member through the Ring app's Request Ownership flow, which Ring documents specifically for situations where the previous owner is deceased or medically incapacitated ("Take Over a Deceased or Medically Incapacitated Person's Account"). After a request is made, the previous owner has up to 15 days to respond; if they do not, doorbells, cameras, and chimes automatically remove from the previous owner's account so the new owner can complete setup. Ring Alarm systems, Ring Smart Lighting devices, Echo Bridge, and Sidewalk devices do not auto-remove after 15 days and require Ring Customer Support to complete the transfer. For a deceased owner's account takeover, Ring states the requester must provide the original owner's email address and contact number on file, the device's MAC address (serial number), and official certified documentation showing the requester is the authorized person to access the decedent's estate; Ring notes this documentation is required so account information is provided only to authorized persons with a legal entitlement. Recorded footage is retained only while a Ring Protect subscription is active and is tied to the account, not separately inheritable.