A Practical Canadian Guide
When someone passes, getting access isn't simple.
Phones stay locked. Emails can't be opened. Subscriptions keep charging. Most families aren't prepared for any of it.
Get the free guide →The reality.
Most people assume their next of kin will simply "get into" their accounts. In Canada and globally, it's harder than almost anyone expects.
iPhones don't unlock for relatives.
Apple does not bypass passcodes, even with a death certificate. Without a Legacy Contact set up in advance, the device stays locked indefinitely.
Emails require legal escalation.
Google, Microsoft and Yahoo each have their own process. Probate documents are typically needed. Many requests are refused or take months.
Subscriptions keep charging.
Streaming, cloud storage, software, recurring deliveries. None of them stop on their own. Families often discover them months later.
Photos and memories disappear.
Cloud-stored photo libraries vanish when accounts are closed without recovery. Sometimes the only copies of a lifetime of images.
Crypto and 2FA are unforgiving.
Wallet keys, authenticator apps, and SMS-bound second factors don't transfer. If they aren't documented, the assets behind them are simply gone.
Executors spend months untangling it.
Even with full legal authority, executors describe the digital portion of an estate as the hardest, most opaque part of their work.
Posthumous digital access in Canada
Only Saskatchewan has enacted the Uniform Access to Digital Assets by Fiduciaries Act. In Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta and the other provinces, posthumous access is governed by common-law principles applied through provincial Surrogate Courts and the federal Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act. Quebec operates under civil law, with succession governed by the Code civil du Québec. Executors holding a Certificate of Appointment of Estate Trustee can petition providers, but outcomes depend on the platform's policy rather than statute.
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Access After Death · Practical Guide (Canadian Edition)
A 14-page PDF covering Apple, Google, Microsoft, banks, social platforms, crypto and the legal landscape. Written for families and executors, not lawyers.
Most of these problems aren't solved after. They're prevented before.
fideby
Leave clear instructions, not a guessing game.
Fideby helps you organise access instructions for your digital life, securely, in one place, so the people you trust aren't left guessing when it matters most.
Set up your planStanding by the people you trust, when you can't.
Official setup links
Common questions.
Can I unlock my deceased relative's iPhone?
Not by default. Apple does not provide passcode bypass, even for next of kin. The only reliable route is the Apple Legacy Contact, which must be set up by the device owner before death. Without it, executors usually need a court order, and even then the encrypted data may not be recoverable.
How do I get into a deceased person's email account in Canada?
It depends on the provider. Google offers an "inactive account manager" for proactive setup. Without one, executors must submit a death certificate, ID, and often probate documents. Microsoft and Yahoo have similar but stricter processes. Most requests take weeks and many are refused.
Do online subscriptions cancel automatically after someone dies?
No. Subscriptions continue charging until the linked card is closed or the account is manually cancelled. Many families discover ongoing charges months after the death: streaming services, cloud storage, software, recurring deliveries.
Are digital assets and online accounts covered by a Canadian will?
Only sometimes. A will can express wishes about digital assets, but it cannot grant access. Service providers' terms of use override most instructions. Practical digital legacy planning happens outside the will, ideally referenced from it.
What's the single most useful thing I can do today?
Set up legacy contacts on Apple and Google, list your most critical accounts, and leave secure access instructions somewhere a trusted person can find them. Tools like Fideby exist precisely so this doesn't sit in a notebook in a drawer.