What Happens to Your Amazon KDP Account When You Die
Quick Facts
Priority
High — royalties continue indefinitely
Difficulty
Moderate
Key Info
Published books generate ongoing royalty income
Step-by-Step Guide
Document all published titles
Log into kdp.amazon.com and list all published books — title, ASIN, format (Kindle, paperback, hardcover), and monthly royalties for each.
Estimated time: 15 min
Check royalty payment details
Review the payment settings. Royalties are paid monthly, 60 days after the end of the month. Ensure the bank account stays active for final payments.
Estimated time: 10 min
Preserve manuscripts and cover files
Download all manuscript files and cover art. These are intellectual property that can continue generating income for the estate for decades.
Estimated time: 20 min
Transfer or maintain the account
Book royalties are estate income. Contact KDP support about transferring the account to an heir. An estate attorney can advise on copyright and royalty rights.
Document Now Checklist
- KDP account email
- List of published titles and ASINs
- Monthly royalty income
- Bank account for royalty deposits
- Location of manuscript files
- Executor note: book royalties continue indefinitely — this is ongoing estate income
Last verified: June 2026. Platform policies may change. Verify current procedures directly with Amazon KDP. 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.
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