How to memorialise or close a Facebook account after someone dies
You have two choices for a deceased person's Facebook account: memorialise it, which keeps it online as a tribute, or remove it permanently. Neither option lets anyone log in. Meta won't hand over the password, and logging in with one you know is against its rules.
Last changed: 19 October 2026Option 1: Memorialise the account
A memorialised profile shows "Remembering" next to the person's name. It's locked so nobody can log in, and their posts stay visible to the people they were shared with. Depending on their privacy settings, friends can still share memories on it.
- Who can ask: anyone can report a death and request memorialisation.
- What you'll need: the person's name, date of death, and proof such as a link to an online obituary or death notice.
- Where: search Facebook Help for "request to memorialise or remove an account".
Want this done for you? See the Guided Inventory ↓
Option 2: Remove the account permanently
Removal deletes the profile, photos and posts for good. Only a verified immediate family member or the executor can request it. You'll need to prove both the death and your relationship, for example with:
- The death certificate
- The deceased's birth certificate
- Proof you're the legal representative of the estate (such as a grant of probate)
If the person nominated a legacy contact, that contact is usually the one who manages the memorialised profile and requests removal.
What a legacy contact can and can't do
A legacy contact can:
- write a pinned post, for example with funeral details
- update the profile picture and cover photo
- respond to new friend requests (only if they were named before the death)
- change who can see tributes and posts the person was tagged in
- request removal of the account
- download a copy of what the person shared, if the person allowed this
A legacy contact can't log in as the person, read their messages, remove friends, send friend requests, or edit or delete past posts.
Instagram works the same way
Instagram is also owned by Meta and has the same two options:
- Memorialise: anyone can request it with proof of death, such as an obituary link. The account is locked and its posts stay up.
- Remove: only verified immediate family can request it, with a birth certificate, death certificate, or proof of legal authority.
Request these through the Instagram Help Centre by searching "deceased".
Before you request removal
Removal can't be undone. If family photos or messages matter, talk with family first. Memorialising preserves everything while you decide.
Make it easier for your own family
You can nominate a Facebook legacy contact, or ask Facebook to delete your account when you die, in your Facebook settings (search Facebook Help for "memorialisation settings"). The Legacy Mapped Guided Inventory asks about each social profile in turn and records whether you want it kept, memorialised or deleted, so your family isn't left guessing.
- Includes the $49 Digital Estate Kit
- Generates your finished inventory, ready to print
- Encrypted on your device with your own passphrase — we never see your answers
- Sign in with your email and a one-time code · 12 months’ access
This guide is general information only, not legal, financial or tax advice. Providers change their processes, so always confirm the current steps on the linked official page. For advice on a specific estate, speak with a solicitor, accountant or licensed financial adviser.