What happens to Verizon accounts when the owner dies
Verizon Communications Inc. has a formal process for transferring accounts after an account holder dies
Verizon Customer Service
Verizon - Deceased Account Handling / Executor Transfer
Verizon states that deceased-account transfer, disconnect, and closure requests are reviewed in about 3 business days. If additional information is needed, Verizon contacts the requester before confirming. For a number transfer, after the review the new Account Owner receives an email to complete the transfer; Verizon does not publish a separate completion timeline beyond that.
When a Verizon account holder passes away, Verizon Communications Inc. allows accounts to be transferred to family members.
How to request a transfer
To request a transfer of Verizon accounts after an account holder's death, follow these steps:
- •The Account Owner's name
- •The mobile phone number on the account
- •The Verizon mobile Account PIN (if you have it)
- •A death certificate and your executor paperwork (Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration)
- •Verizon reviews the request in about 3 business days
- •After review, the new Account Owner is emailed to complete the transfer
- •Return the device: Verizon sends a return kit, and when the device is received the remaining balance is forgiven
- •Keep the device: the line is disconnected and the remaining device payment balance is charged on the next bill
Required Documents
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Executor paperwork (Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration) when acting as the estate executor
- The Account Owner's name and the mobile phone number on the account
- The Verizon mobile Account PIN, if available
Timeline
Verizon states that deceased-account transfer, disconnect, and closure requests are reviewed in about 3 business days. If additional information is needed, Verizon contacts the requester before confirming. For a number transfer, after the review the new Account Owner receives an email to complete the transfer; Verizon does not publish a separate completion timeline beyond that.
Frequently asked questions
The account and the deceased's phone number can be transferred to a surviving family member or kept on a different Verizon account, or the account can be disconnected and closed. A surviving account member or an estate executor handles this through Verizon's deceased-account process, providing a death certificate and executor paperwork. Stored rewards do not move with the account.
Yes. To keep the number, the executor completes Verizon's "Executor transfer or disconnect service form" (or a surviving account member uses the account-member transfer path). After Verizon reviews the request in about 3 business days, the new Account Owner is emailed to complete the transfer. The number can instead be ported to another carrier from the new account if you do not want to keep it on Verizon.
They are forfeited. Under the Verizon Dollars program terms, Dollars and program benefits are non-transferable and cannot be sold, gifted, or assigned to another account or party, and accumulated Verizon Dollars are immediately forfeited when Verizon service is terminated. Verizon Up / myAccess benefits are tied to the account and are not separately inheritable, so redeem anything worth using before the account is closed.
The balance does not disappear. Verizon offers two options: return the device, in which case Verizon sends a return kit and the remaining balance is forgiven once the device is received; or keep the device, in which case the line is disconnected and the remaining device payment balance is charged on the next bill.
Call Verizon at 800-922-0204 or visit a Verizon company store with the death certificate and executor paperwork, along with the Account Owner's name, the mobile phone number, and the Account PIN if you have it. To close the account, request a disconnect; to keep a number, complete the executor transfer form. Requests are reviewed in about 3 business days.
Verizon states that deceased-account transfer, disconnect, and closure requests are reviewed in about 3 business days. If additional information is needed, Verizon contacts the requester before confirming. For a number transfer, the new Account Owner is emailed after the review to complete the transfer.
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 Verizon Communications Inc. primary sources (5 pages reviewed). How we research.
Verizon Customer Service
Verizon - Deceased Account Handling / Executor Transfer
Verizon states that deceased-account transfer, disconnect, and closure requests are reviewed in about 3 business days. If additional information is needed, Verizon contacts the requester before confirming. For a number transfer, after the review the new Account Owner receives an email to complete the transfer; Verizon does not publish a separate completion timeline beyond that.
