How to access a deceased person's PayPal account
The executor or administrator of the estate emails PayPal's deceased-accounts team a short packet: a cover sheet naming the account, the death certificate, their government ID, the will or estate papers naming them, and a Form W-9 for the estate. PayPal reviews it, closes the account, and releases any balance to the estate. No court order is required in most cases. Reviews typically take 14 to 60 days.
- Timeline: 14 to 60 days (PayPal, 2026)
- Court order needed: no
- Documents: Cover sheet, Death certificate, Government-issued photo ID, Will or legal documentation naming the executor, IRS Form W-9 for the estate
How do you access a deceased person's PayPal account?
- Write a one-page cover sheet identifying the PayPal account by its primary email address, requesting closure, and giving your own email address.
- Gather the death certificate, your government-issued photo ID, and the will or legal documentation naming you executor (state-issued documentation if there is no will).
- Download and complete IRS Form W-9 for the estate.
- Email the packet to deceasedaccounts@paypal.com, or mail it to PayPal Inc., Attn: ICA, P.O. Box 45950, Omaha, NE 68145.
- PayPal reviews the documents, closes or locks the account, and disburses any balance by check in the deceased's name or by transfer to the linked bank account.
What documents does PayPal require?
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| Cover sheet | Identifies the account by primary email address and requests closure; includes your email. |
| Death certificate | A copy is accepted. |
| Government-issued photo ID | Of the requesting executor or administrator. |
| Will or legal documentation naming the executor | State-issued documentation of authority if there is no will. |
| IRS Form W-9 for the estate | Available from the IRS website; PayPal uses it to report the disbursement. |
How long does it take, and what does it cost?
The executor or administrator of the estate emails PayPal's deceased-accounts team a short packet: a cover sheet naming the account, the death certificate, their government ID, the will or estate papers naming them, and a Form W-9 for the estate. PayPal reviews it, closes the account, and releases any balance to the estate. No court order is required in most cases. Reviews typically take 14 to 60 days. There is no process fee. A PayPal balance is one of the most overlooked cash assets in an estate, and the account stays live after a death: subscriptions keep drawing from it and payments keep arriving into it. Closing it early protects the money; the check PayPal cuts is payable to the deceased, so the estate needs a bank account to deposit it.
PayPal takes instructions only from the estate's documented executor or administrator. A spouse or child without that authority cannot close the account or claim the balance, and PayPal releases funds to the estate, never to an individual in their own name.