Before you close a loved one's email account, stop. That inbox may be the single most useful tool you have for settling the estate.
I went through my husband's email after he died and found accounts I didn't know existed — a brokerage account, two insurance policies, and a subscription that had been billing us for three years. None of it was in any paper file. All of it was in his inbox.
What to look for:
Search for: statement, account, policy, confirmation, renewal, invoice, billing. Look for recurring charges — these reveal subscriptions and services that need to be cancelled. Look for financial institutions you may not have known about. Look for insurance policies, especially life insurance, that may never have come up in conversation.
Before you close the account:
Download or forward anything important. Many email providers permanently delete an account — and everything in it — within 30 to 90 days of inactivity or after a closure request. Once it's gone, it's gone. Don't rush this step.
If you don't have the password:
Most major providers — Google, Apple, Microsoft — have a next-of-kin or estate access process. It requires documentation: typically a death certificate and proof of your relationship or executor status. It can take several weeks. Start the process early.
One honest note:
You may find things in an inbox you weren't expecting. Approach this task with care and, if possible, with someone you trust nearby.