How can my family access my YouTube Studio (Creator) account after I die?

The process typically involves contacting YouTube Studio (Creator) with a death certificate and proof of relationship. Our step-by-step guide walks you through the exact procedure.

🎬 Streaming

What Happens to Your YouTube Studio (Creator) Account When You Die

Ongoing ad revenueClaim AdSense balance

Quick Facts

Revenue

Ad revenue may continue

AdSense

Claim remaining balance

Channel

Can be memorialized or transferred

Step-by-Step Guide

Claim outstanding AdSense balance

Contact Google to claim any unpaid AdSense balance. You will need a death certificate and proof of estate authority.

Decide channel fate

The YouTube channel can be memorialized, transferred to an heir, or deleted through Google's Inactive Account Manager or estate process.

Ongoing revenue potential

YouTube channels can continue earning ad revenue indefinitely. Consider keeping the channel active if it generates meaningful income.

Document Now Checklist

YouTube channel name and URL
Monthly ad revenue estimate
AdSense account email
Google account controlling the channel

Save this to your vault

When you document your accounts in Passed Plan, your family gets a personalized action plan — with only the guides that apply to them, in the right order, with your notes attached.

Start your vault — free for 30 days

Last verified: June 2026. Platform policies may change. Verify current procedures directly with YouTube Studio (Creator). This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.

Related Guides

Netflix

Record the email and payment method linked to Netflix.

Hulu

Record your account email. Check if Hulu is bundled with Disney+ and/or ESPN+.

Spotify

Set your favourite playlists to public so family can follow them and keep your music collection alive.

Browse all 1,800+ platform guides Platform Guides Netflix guide Hulu guide

Protect your YouTube Studio (Creator) 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 →

This is 1 of 1,800+ guides in Passed Plan. When you document your accounts, your family gets a personalized Family Action Guide with only the steps that apply to them — in the right order, with your notes.

Browse all 1,800+ guides →