I've personally been through this a few times. Like others are saying, if you aren't sure, consult an attorney.
If this were me however, I'd say this account is most likely property of the estate of the deceased person. If this person had a Last Will and Testament, that document most likely appoints either a Trustee or Executor (if there is no Will, this role should be court appointed by the Probate court). It might be the same person, or might be someone different than the person requesting access to the email account in question. I'd want written proof of who the Trustee or Executor of the estate is, then a letter granting your company rights turn over said account to this other person. If you know these parties personally, this might be over kill of course. For all you know, there might be electronic statements that are being emailed (paperless billing/invoices) that are needed to determine values of accounts at time of death, or notice of a past due bill or something. My father passed away last year, and my step mother gave me my father's account book with all his passwords and such (I'm also the Trustee of his estate). So I had it pretty easy this last go around. Disclaimer: I am not an attorney, and this is not legal advise. Just a sharing what other past experiences I've had. ====================== Curtis Brotherton ________________________________ From: Af [[email protected]] on behalf of That One Guy /sarcasm [[email protected]] Sent: Tuesday, January 19, 2016 5:39 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [AFMUG] dead customer email whats the legality on giving next of kin access to a dead customers email address? we had an older lady croak out and she has an email address with email still in it, i dont look at it, but im curious, normally upon a disconnect we delete the account when i do maintenance. Can/should the family be offered access to it in the event there are pictures or anything with, whats that word, emotional attachment? -- If you only see yourself as part of the team but you don't see your team as part of yourself you have already failed as part of the team.
