What Happens to Your Amazon Web Services (AWS) Account When You Die
Quick Facts
Contact
aws.amazon.com/support
Cost
Variable — can be high
Services
May run websites/apps
Step-by-Step Guide
Assess what is running on AWS
AWS may host websites, applications, databases, or storage critical to a business. Do NOT shut down without understanding what depends on it.
Warning: Shutting down AWS can take down business websites and services
Contact AWS support for estate access
Contact AWS support. They have an account holder death process. Transfer the root account to the estate representative.
Review monthly billing urgently
AWS bills based on usage. Unused resources (EC2 instances, RDS databases) continue charging. Identify and shut down anything not needed.
Document Now Checklist
- AWS account email
- Root account credentials location
- Monthly billing amount
- What services are running
Last verified: June 2026. Platform policies may change. Verify current procedures directly with Amazon Web Services (AWS). This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
Related Guides
Domain Names (GoDaddy, Namecheap, Cloudflare)
Domains expire on a specific date. If not renewed, they become publicly available and can be registered by anyone.
Shopify
If you have an active Shopify store, orders may continue coming in. Your executor needs access immediately to fulfill or refund.
GitHub
Transfer important private repositories to a trusted collaborator or organisation. Go to Repo Settings → Transfer.
Protect your Amazon Web Services (AWS) account — and all your others
Document your digital life in a zero-knowledge encrypted vault. 1,800+ platform guides. Dead Man's Switch. Everything your family needs.
Start your free trial →