How to cancel someone's subscriptions after they die
Subscriptions keep charging after death until someone cancels them, and closing the bank account doesn't always stop them cleanly. The job has two parts: find every subscription, then cancel each one at the source.
Last changed: 19 October 2026Step 1: Find them all
- Bank and credit card statements. Look for repeating amounts on similar dates. Go back 12 months, not three, to catch annual renewals like antivirus software, domain names, memberships and Amazon Prime.
- App store subscriptions. On an iPhone or Android phone, these are billed through Apple or Google and often appear on statements only as "Apple" or "Google".
- PayPal. Check for automatic payments if you can access the account.
- Their inbox. Search for "receipt", "renewal", "subscription" and "invoice".
Want this done for you? See the Guided Inventory ↓
Step 2: Cancel at the source
If you can sign in, cancelling through the account settings is fastest.
If you can't, most providers will cancel for you after verification:
- Netflix: contact support with the email or phone number on the account and the full payment details being charged. (Netflix Help)
- Spotify, Disney+, Stan, Binge and others: contact customer support and explain the account holder has died. Have the account email and payment details ready, and a death certificate in case they ask.
- Subscriptions billed through Apple or Google: these must be cancelled with Apple or Google, not the app itself. Contact their support if you can't sign in.
- Family plans: if the person paid for a family or shared plan, cancelling ends access for everyone. Let other members set up their own plan first.
Step 3: Use the bank as a backstop
How much the bank can do depends on how the subscription was paid: (Westpac)
| Payment type | Set up with | Can the bank stop it? |
|---|---|---|
| Direct debit | BSB and account number | Yes. Banks must stop it on request. |
| Recurring card payment | Card number | Contact the merchant first. Banks may help or offer a chargeback if the merchant doesn't cancel. |
When you notify the bank of the death, usually through the Australian Death Notification Service or the bank's bereavement team, accounts are typically frozen, and charges will start to fail. Cancelling properly is still worth doing so providers stop chasing the estate.
Charged after death? Ask the provider for a refund of any charges after the date of death. Many will agree, though it's not guaranteed.
What you'll usually need
- Account email or phone number
- The card or payment details being charged
- Death certificate (sometimes)
Make it easier for your own family
A simple list of what you subscribe to, what it costs and how it's paid saves your executor hours of reading statements. The Legacy Mapped Guided Inventory has a dedicated Subscriptions step, and each account gets a clear instruction: keep, close or transfer.
- 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.