How to Memorialize or Delete a Deceased Person's Facebook Account
When someone dies, their Facebook profile keeps doing what profiles do: reminding friends of their birthday, appearing in "People You May Know," and sitting exposed to scammers who target inactive accounts. Facebook (Meta) gives families two options — memorialize the account or delete it permanently — and the documentation differs for each. Here's exactly how both work.
Option 1: Memorialize the account
A memorialized profile stays visible with the word "Remembering" above the person's name. No one can log into it, it stops appearing in birthday reminders and friend suggestions, and the timeline is frozen. Friends can still share memories on the profile, depending on its privacy settings.
What Facebook requires
- Proof of death — a death certificate or a link to a verifiable obituary is usually enough for memorialization.
- The account's name and profile URL.
Memorialization requests are typically processed within days. Anyone can request it — you don't need to be the executor.
Option 2: Delete the account permanently
Deletion removes the profile, photos, posts, and messages permanently. Facebook requires stronger documentation for deletion than for memorialization: typically a death certificate plus proof that you're an immediate family member or the estate's legal representative, submitted through Meta's "Special Request for a Deceased Person's Account" form.
What about a Legacy Contact?
If your loved one named a Legacy Contact in their settings before they passed, that person can manage the memorialized profile — update the cover photo, pin a tribute post, and respond to new friend requests. A Legacy Contact cannot read private messages or log in as the person. If a Legacy Contact exists, coordinate with them before filing anything.
Don't forget Instagram
Instagram (also Meta) has a separate process with its own forms — memorializing a Facebook account does nothing to the person's Instagram. You'll need to file both requests individually.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Logging in with the person's password. It violates Meta's terms, can flag the account, and in some states can create legal exposure. Use the official forms.
- Deleting before the family agrees. Memorialization is reversible in spirit — deletion is not. When siblings disagree, memorialize first.
- Ignoring the account entirely. Dormant accounts of deceased people are prime targets for cloning scams that then message grieving relatives.
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