Losing a loved one is never easy, and dealing with your digital life can add another stress duration layer at a time already difficult.
John de Northampton, Pennsylvania, contacted a question that many people face, but few know how to handle: “Explain how to eliminate the Facebook account of a deceased person.”
John, we regret your loss a lot, and you are not alone when asking what to do next. The management of the presence of a deceased person may feel abundant, especially if he is not sure where to start. Facebook offers some options depending on whether you want to preserve your account as a monument or that eliminates it completely. This is what you need to know, along with how to protect your digital legacy from misuse.
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A woman moving on Facebook (Kurt “Cyberguy” Knutsson)
What is a commemorated Facebook account?
When Facebook realizes that someone has died, its policy is commemorate The check. This turns the profile into a digital tribute, serving as a space where friends and family can meet, share memories and see photos and publications. A commemoil account:
- Shows the word “remember” next to the name of the person
- Preserves the content they published during their life
- Prevents any person from logging into the account
- It can only be administered by inherited contact (if one was assigned)
The commemoration of an account not only honors the person’s memory, but also adds a security layer when blocking the unauthorized access account. Anyone can request that a Facebook account be commemorated if you think the user has died, but only verified an immediate family or an inherited contact can manage the account later.
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Option 1: Request commemoration
If Facebook has already commemorated the account, you can request it yourself. While anyone can send a memorization application, Facebook may require evidence if you are not a close relative. Here we show you how to request switching:
- Go to Memorization application form
- Provide the deceased Full name and death date
- Increase death certificate (As an obitarian, death certificate or commemorative card)
- Send the form And wait for Facebook to review and process the application
If the deceased assigned an inherited contact before he died, that person will be notified and can manage the commemorated profile.
If you are not sure what an inherited contact is or how to establish one for your own account, go to Facebook > Settings > Memorization configuration and choose someone to trust.
For more information about inherited contacts and digital legacy planning, see: One day you will leave this land, but your data will live in a messy future.
Option 2: Request the account elimination
If you prefer that the account permanently eliminate instead of commemorating, Facebook provides a separate process for that, but only for immediate family members or legal representatives. These are the steps to eliminate the account:
- Visit the Special request for the account of the deceased person
- Select the option: Eliminate this account
- Load documentationIncluding a copy of the death certificate of the deceased and the proof that he is a member of the nearby family or has legal authority to act in his name
Note: Even if you know the person’s login information, Facebook terms prohibit logging into another person’s account, just after death. In cases where the deceased did not use his legal name on Facebook or was a minor, Facebook can request additional documentation to verify their identity.
Facebook application on a smartphone (Kurt “Cyberguy” Knutsson)
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Verify if there is an inherited contact
Facebook allows users to assign a Inherited contactSomeone who trusts to administer their commemoration profile. If your loved one configured this before passing, your inherited contact can:
- Accept new friendship requests
- Tribute post
- Update the cover or cover photo
- Request the realization of the account
However, they cannot log in to the account, read messages or make publications such as the deceased. To assign an inherited contact in your own profile, go to your Facebook settingsThen choose “Memorization configuration.“From there, you can select A trust contact To administer your commemorated account when the time comes. For more information on how to verify or assign an inherited contact, see: How to be remembered forever on Facebook.
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Other Facebook options you should know
In addition to commemorating or eliminating an account, Facebook offers some other tools to handle the profile of a deceased person.
- Request a copy of the content: Verified family members or legal representatives can Request content As photos or messages. Note: While Facebook does not grant full access, in some cases it allows you to request a download of shared content such as photos, publications and videos.
- Report an account that must be commemorated: Even if you are not an immediate family, you can Inform an account If you think it belongs to someone who has died.
- Can’t you access or log in to a commemoil account? Facebook does not allow a session in commemorated profiles, equally with credentials. If you are with Access problemsThey are probably a relationship with this restriction.
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Why it is important to take action
Unfortunately, the digital world does not stop after someone dies. Unattended accounts can become vulnerable to Ghost piracyA type of cyber crime that addresses the deceased. It is known that scammers get through the disagreements to exploit afflicted friends and family.
And be careful with fraud artists who go to families with false schemes related to funeral: How the imposters try to exploit their complaint and wallet in a new funeral scam.
An online scammer (Kurt “Cyberguy” Knutsson)
Protection of the digital legacy of your loved one: essential steps to take
Managing the Facebook account of a deceased person is just part of safeguarding his digital presence. To ensure that your life online remains safe and respected, here five important steps you can take to protect passwords, accounts and personal information after a loved one dies.
1) Use a password administrator: Use a password administrator to generate and store complex passwords. Use one that offers emergency access characteristics and designate reliable contact that can request access to your accounts after a waiting period, ensuring that your passwords remain safe but accessible to the right person when necessary. Get more details about me The best password administrators reviewed by experts or 2025 here.
2) Enable multifactor authentication: Enable multifactorial authentication in all important accounts and provide your emergency contact with backup codes or alternative authentication methods to avoid blockages while pulling strong safety.
3) Assign inherited contacts: Assign inherited contacts not only on Facebook but also on other important platforms such as Google, Apple and Microsoft, so that your trusted person can administer or recover their digital data according to their wathes after approval.
4) Maintain an updated account list: Maintain an updated and encrypted list of all critical accounts, including financial services, subscriptions, email and social media credentials, together with the instructions on how to handle each and store safely, either Dive or Physicalyp.
5) Review and communicate regularly: Check and update your digital legacy plan regularly, at least once a year, and communicate clearly with your contacts designed to make sure you understand how to access and manage your accounts when the time comes.
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Kurt’s Key Takeways
Handling a loved Facebook account after they died can feel voluntary, but it doesn’t have to go through it alone. Whether you choose to preserve your memory through a commemica page or eliminate the account completely, Facebook has clear steps to help you make it respectful and safely.
How do you think social networks should handle accounts or dead users? Get us knowing in Cyberguy.com/contact.
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