Practical and immediate
How do I deal with their phone?
Short answer
Contact the carrier to cancel or transfer service. If you need the phone for account recovery (two-factor authentication), do this carefully — change important accounts first, then cancel. Some carriers will not provide access to a deceased person's device without a court…
What this usually means
Contact the carrier to cancel or transfer service. If you need the phone for account recovery (two-factor authentication), do this carefully — change important accounts first, then cancel. Some carriers will not provide access to a deceased person's device without a court order.
What to do next
- Start the PathAfter checklist for situation-aware first steps.
- Find California county help for coroner contacts, vital records, cost tools, and paperwork.
- Open the First 72 Hours Call Log before making calls.
- Open the Documents to Find Checklist when you are ready for paperwork.