What to Do with Your Loved One’s Facebook Account

After a loss, there can be an overwhelming list of things to do and many decisions to make. One category that doesn’t always make it on the checklists of tasks is deciding what to do with your loved one’s social media presence after they have passed away. As many of us are aware, social media accounts are vulnerable to hackers, and taking these steps will keep them from accessing and using your loved one’s account.

Memorializing vs. Deleting

On Facebook, you generally have two choices: to remove the account completely or to leave it up as a memorial. Consider what your loved one would have wanted and whether friends and family would appreciate seeing their pictures or other content and leaving messages on their page. If you can access your loved one’s account, you can also download a copy of their information and save it or share it with select people.

Facebook Memorial

When you choose to memorialize a Facebook account, the word “Remembering” will appear next to the person’s name on their profile. To request that an account be memorialized, you’ll need their Facebook profile URL link, the date they passed away, and a scanned document or screenshot of proof such as an obituary, death certificate, memorial card or other documentation. Access the memorialization form here.

If your loved one was the sole manager or admin of a Page, that page will be deleted when Facebook is notified of the person’s death.

Please note that if your loved one has changed their settings to request that their account be deleted after they pass away, filling out the memorialization request form will notify Facebook of their death and all messages, photos, posts, comments, reactions and information will be deleted.

Deleting a Loved One’s Facebook Profile

If you’d prefer to delete their Facebook account, you’ll need one document to prove that you have the authority to make the request (birth certificate, will, estate letter or power of attorney) and one document to prove your loved one has passed (obituary or memorial card). Access the form for removal of a Facebook account here.

Tasks like this can be difficult, especially when you’re grieving. If you or someone you love needs help with prioritizing, organizing, and completing their to-do list after a loss, Compass can help. Contact us to schedule a free consultation.