What to do when a PayPal account holder dies
Contact PayPal — 7-step process, 6 required documents, and 1-2 business days if all required documentation is complete and the request is approved. paypal reviews submitted documents and closes the account upon approval.
Phone1-888-221-1161
Toll-Free1-888-221-1161
Mailing Address
PayPal, Inc., 2211 N 1st St, San Jose, CA 95131
WebsiteLearn more→
Phone1-888-221-1161
Toll-Free1-888-221-1161
Mailing Address
PayPal, Inc., 2211 N 1st St, San Jose, CA 95131
WebsiteLearn more→
Deceased Accounts
Phone1-888-221-1161
Mailing Address
PayPal Inc., Attn: ICA, P.O. Box 45950, Omaha, NE 68145
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified May 2026
When a PayPal account holder passes away, the next step depends on how the accounts were set up. Accounts with beneficiary designations or trust ownership transfer outside of probate. Accounts titled solely in the deceased's name require the estate's legal representative to work with PayPal's Deceased Accounts (1-888-221-1161) to access and distribute the funds.
Before contacting PayPal, have the account holder's full name, date of birth, and any available account numbers ready. A certified death certificate is required to initiate the claim.
Death claim process
Here is the step-by-step death claim process at PayPal:
Filing a claim
1
Only the authorized executor or administrator of the deceased estate can initiate account closure
2
Gather all required documentation:
- Death certificate (copy)
- Your government-issued photo ID
- Executor/administrator legal documentation (will or court-issued Letters Testamentary/Administration)
- W-9 for the estate
3
Prepare your submission materials:
- Create a cover sheet identifying the PayPal account by primary email address and requesting account closure
- Include your email address so PayPal can contact you directly
4
Submit all documents via one of these methods:
- Email to deceasedaccounts@paypal.com
- Mail to PayPal Inc., Attn: ICA, P.O. Box 45950, Omaha, NE 68145
5
PayPal will review all documentation and the account
6
If approved, request fund disbursement:
- A check issued in the deceased account holder's name
- A transfer to the bank account previously linked to the PayPal account
7
Mailed documents are destroyed after review and cannot be returned -- send copies, not originals
Required Documents
- Cover sheet identifying the PayPal account by primary email address and requesting closure
- Death certificate (copy)
- Government-issued photo ID of the requestor (driver's license, passport, or state ID)
- Legal documentation proving executor/administrator status (copy of will or court-issued Letters Testamentary/Administration)
- State-issued documentation if no will exists (Letters of Administration)
- W-9 form for the Estate (available at irs.gov)
PayPal has no beneficiary designation system, so ALL account balances must go through this deceased account process regardless of the amount. Funds can be disbursed as a check in the deceased's name or transferred to a linked bank account. Only executors or administrators can initiate -- other family members will be turned away. PayPal's crypto holdings, savings balance, and main balance are all handled through this single process. Documents sent by mail are destroyed after review.
How long the process takes at PayPal: 1-2 business days if all required documentation is complete and the request is approved. PayPal reviews submitted documents and closes the account upon approval. The most common reason for delays is missing or incomplete documentation, so submitting everything upfront is the best way to keep things moving.
PayPal requires several documents to process a claim, including Cover sheet identifying the PayPal account by primary email address and requesting closure, Death certificate (copy), and Government-issued photo ID of the requestor (driver's license, passport, or state ID), and additional documentation depending on the account type. Certified copies are typically needed—photocopies are generally not accepted for death certificates or court documents.
Frequently asked questions
After PayPal approves the account closure, remaining funds can be disbursed in two ways: a check issued in the deceased account holder's name, or a transfer to the bank account that was previously linked to the PayPal account. The executor or administrator specifies the preferred disbursement method.
Cryptocurrency held in PayPal (Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Bitcoin Cash, PYUSD) is handled through the same deceased account closure process as all other PayPal funds. There are no separate beneficiary designations for crypto. The executor or administrator must submit the required documentation to deceasedaccounts@paypal.com.
PayPal Savings deposits, held by Synchrony Bank, are handled through PayPal's deceased account closure process. The executor or administrator submits documentation to PayPal's Deceased Accounts team. Funds are FDIC-insured up to $250,000 through Synchrony Bank, but there is no POD/TOD beneficiary designation available through PayPal.
The PayPal Cashback Mastercard is issued by Synchrony Bank and is a credit card, not a deposit account. Any outstanding balance at the time of death becomes a liability of the estate and must be paid from estate assets before remaining funds are distributed to heirs. Unredeemed cash back rewards are forfeited upon account closure. There are no beneficiary designations available for credit card accounts.
No. Only the authorized executor or administrator of the deceased estate can request account closure. PayPal will not accept requests from other family members. You must provide legal documentation proving your authority, such as a copy of the will naming you as executor or court-issued Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration.
No. PayPal states that mailed documents are destroyed after review and cannot be returned. Always send copies of your death certificate, ID, and legal documents -- never send originals.
PayPal's Deceased Accounts can be reached by phone at 1-888-221-1161 and email at deceasedaccounts@paypal.com for questions throughout the claims process.
If the deceased held multiple PayPal accounts, each may require a separate claim or have different documentation requirements. The Deceased Accounts can confirm which accounts require individual attention and which can be processed together.
Phone1-888-221-1161
Toll-Free1-888-221-1161
Mailing Address
PayPal, Inc., 2211 N 1st St, San Jose, CA 95131
WebsiteLearn more→
Phone1-888-221-1161
Toll-Free1-888-221-1161
Mailing Address
PayPal, Inc., 2211 N 1st St, San Jose, CA 95131
WebsiteLearn more→
Deceased Accounts
Phone1-888-221-1161
Mailing Address
PayPal Inc., Attn: ICA, P.O. Box 45950, Omaha, NE 68145
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified May 2026
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