Account Security After Bereavement or Divorce
Big life changes leave shared accounts, recovery contacts and access in the wrong hands. A calm checklist for reviewing accounts after a bereavement, separation or divorce.
When a partner dies or a relationship ends, digital life is rarely the first thing on your mind. But shared accounts, joint finances, recovery contacts and devices can leave you exposed or locked out later. This checklist helps you work through them calmly, one area at a time.
After a separation or divorce
- Email and phone: new passwords, two-step verification, recovery details that are yours alone, sign out of all other sessions.
- Banking: change passwords and PINs; seek legal and bank advice about joint accounts.
- Shared plans: cloud storage, family sharing, streaming, location sharing.
- Devices: remove your accounts from shared devices, and theirs from yours.
- Monitoring: check for unexpected apps. See when a partner or ex has access.
If you feel unsafe, speak to a domestic abuse support service before making changes that could alert the other person.
After a bereavement
- Update your own recovery contacts and emergency access that named the person who died.
- Joint accounts: follow your bank's bereavement process.
- Their accounts: use official processes to close or memorialise. See digital legacy.
- Subscriptions: cancel and remove saved cards.
Scammers target people going through major life changes, with fake debts, fake legal letters and fake support offers. Verify everything through official contacts.
A calm pace
Do the essentials first: email, phone and money. Then work through the rest over a few weeks. Ask a trusted friend to help if it feels overwhelming.
Received a letter or message you are unsure about? Paste it into CyberWatch AI Scan for a free check.
For more, read our guide to identity theft and account security.
Frequently asked questions
What should I review first after a separation?
Your email, phone and banking: passwords, recovery details, linked devices and shared access. Get legal advice about joint financial accounts.
What changes after a bereavement?
Recovery contacts or emergency access that pointed to the person who died, joint accounts, shared subscriptions and devices.
Is it urgent?
Take care of safety and essentials first. Then work through the review over a few weeks; there is no need to do everything in one day.
Sources
- Debts and Deceased Relatives, US Federal Trade Commission
- Stalkerware: What To Know, US Federal Trade Commission
- Top tips for staying secure online, UK National Cyber Security Centre
