How to Deal With PayPal After Someone Dies in the UK

How to Deal With PayPal After Someone Dies in the UK

If someone who has died used PayPal, do not ignore it or close linked accounts too quickly. A PayPal account can hold money, connect to subscriptions, and link to selling platforms, so it is best to treat it as part of the estate admin rather than “just another app”.

This guide explains how to deal with PayPal after someone dies in the UK, who can contact PayPal, what documents are usually needed, and what to check before the account is closed.

Why PayPal matters after a death

Many people use PayPal for small day-to-day payments, but it can also be tied to bigger practical issues, including:

• a remaining balance in the account
• recurring payments or subscriptions
• refunds that have not arrived yet
• disputes or chargebacks in progress
• linked bank accounts and cards
• online selling activity through websites or marketplaces

That means closing the account too early can create avoidable problems. The safer approach is to identify what the account is being used for first, then deal with closure once the important loose ends have been checked.

Who can deal with a deceased person’s PayPal account?

PayPal’s bereavement process is generally designed for the executor or administrator of the estate. In other words, the person handling the estate should normally be the one contacting PayPal and giving instructions.

If there is a will, PayPal may ask for evidence showing who the executor is. If there is no will, the likely administrator may need to explain their relationship to the person who died and their role in the estate.

How do you contact PayPal in the UK after someone dies?

PayPal’s UK bereavement guidance says requests can be sent to:

• Email: bereavement@paypal.co.uk
• Post: 5 Fleet Place, London, EC4M 7RD

It helps to begin with a short cover note explaining:

• that the account holder has died
• your name and contact details
• your relationship to the person who died
• that you are asking for the account to be closed or reviewed
• any account details that will help PayPal identify the account, such as the email address, phone number or home address linked to it

What documents does PayPal usually ask for?

At a minimum, you should expect to provide:

• a copy of the death certificate
• details that identify the PayPal account
• your own contact details

If there is money left in the account, PayPal may ask for more. Depending on the circumstances, that could include:

• a certified copy of the will showing the executor
• information about the likely administrator if there is no will
• photo ID for the person dealing with the estate
• a signed indemnity form
• instructions about what should happen to the balance

If other people are entitled to part of the estate, PayPal may also want written confirmation before releasing money to one person.

What happens if there is money in the PayPal account?

This is where the process becomes more than a simple account closure. If there is a balance, the estate may need it paid out before the account is shut.

According to PayPal’s bereavement guidance:

• for balances under £5,000, PayPal may accept a signed indemnity form from the executor or administrator
• for balances above £5,000, PayPal may require Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration before releasing the funds

That does not mean every estate needs probate purely because PayPal exists. It means PayPal can require formal authority when the amount involved is above its threshold.

How can the remaining PayPal balance be paid out?

PayPal says any approved balance may be released in one of several ways, including:

1. transfer to a bank account already linked to the PayPal account
2. transfer to a PayPal account nominated by the executor or administrator
3. wire transfer to a specified bank account

The right option will depend on the estate paperwork, the value involved, and what PayPal approves.

What should you check before closing the account?

This is the part families often miss. Before asking PayPal to close the account, check whether it is linked to anything else that still matters.

1. Recurring payments and subscriptions

Look for streaming services, app subscriptions, charity donations, software licences or website renewals going through PayPal.

2. Refunds or buyer disputes

If the person recently bought something expensive, there may be a refund, claim or dispute still in progress. Closing the account too early can complicate that.

3. Selling activity

If the person sold items online, PayPal may be tied to open orders, customer messages, or payout records. That is especially important if the person ran a small side business.

4. Linked records for the estate

Download or preserve statements, transaction history and confirmation emails if they may help with estate accounts or tax records.

5. Linked bank cards or accounts

If those bank accounts are also being closed, think about the order carefully. Sometimes it is better to resolve the PayPal side first.

A sensible order to follow

A practical sequence is:

1. identify the PayPal account and preserve access to relevant emails or records
2. check for subscriptions, disputes, refunds and selling activity
3. work out whether there is a remaining balance
4. gather the death certificate and estate documents
5. contact PayPal bereavement support
6. arrange release of the balance if one exists
7. close the account once the important linked issues are resolved

Does PayPal form part of the estate?

Yes, in practical terms it usually does. If the account holds money, that balance should normally be treated as part of the deceased person’s estate. If it contains useful transaction records, those may also help the executor understand what needs to be cancelled, refunded or valued.

Common questions about PayPal after death

Can I just log in and close the account myself?

Even if you know the password, it is usually safer to use the formal bereavement route. That reduces the risk of later problems over authority, missing balances or incomplete records.

Do I need probate to close a PayPal account?

Not always. But PayPal’s published guidance says it may require Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration where the balance is above £5,000.

What if there is no will?

PayPal may still deal with the likely administrator, but it may ask for more information about their relationship to the deceased and their authority to act.

Should I close the linked bank account first?

Usually no. Check the PayPal balance, pending transactions and payout route first. Closing the linked bank account too early can slow things down.

A simple checklist

Task	What to do
Find the account	Identify the email address, phone number or address used on PayPal
Preserve records	Keep transaction history, emails and any evidence of disputes or subscriptions
Check for money	Confirm whether a balance remains in the account
Gather documents	Death certificate, will or administrator details, ID, and any probate paperwork if needed
Contact PayPal	Use the UK bereavement route and ask what they need for closure or release of funds
Close last	Shut the account only after linked payments and any balance are dealt with

Final thought

A PayPal account often sits in the awkward middle ground between money, records, and digital access. That is why the safest rule is simple: preserve first, review second, close last.

If you are managing several accounts at once, GetPassage can help you keep the admin organised so details like subscriptions, balances and provider responses do not get lost in the middle of everything else.