When someone dies, their PayPal account does not close automatically. Any balance remains in the account, recurring payments may continue to debit from linked bank cards, and – if the deceased had PayPal Credit – that debt becomes part of the estate. There may also be Honey Gold points that will be forfeited if the account closes before they are redeemed.
Acting quickly prevents unnecessary charges and protects estate assets.
Quick reference:
- Email: bereavement@paypal.co.uk
- Phone: 0800 358 7911 (PayPal UK customer service)
- Official guidance: PayPal UK – closing a deceased relative’s account
- Probate threshold: £5,000 (under this, a signed indemnity form is sufficient)
- Timeline: 3–5 weeks from initial contact to receiving any funds
What happens to a PayPal account when someone dies?
PayPal accounts do not have a death trigger – the account remains open and active until a representative contacts PayPal to close it. Three things need immediate attention.
The balance is an estate asset. A PayPal balance is prepaid e-money, not a bank deposit, but it belongs to the estate and can be claimed by the executor or administrator. It will not transfer automatically to next of kin.
Recurring payments may continue. If the deceased had active PayPal billing agreements – streaming services, subscriptions, software licences – these can continue to deduct from linked bank accounts or credit cards even after death, unless cancelled. The formal closure process takes weeks, so stopping subscriptions independently and promptly is essential.
Honey Gold points will be forfeited on closure. If the deceased used PayPal Honey, any unredeemed Honey Gold points are permanently lost when the PayPal account closes. Before the account is shut, check whether there are points that can be redeemed for PayPal credit or a gift card. Once the account closes, these cannot be recovered.
(Source: PayPal UK – closing a deceased relative’s account, verified May 2026.)
How to notify PayPal
PayPal’s bereavement process is handled primarily by email – there is no dedicated online form for deceased accounts. You write directly to PayPal’s bereavement team with your documents attached.
| Step | What to do | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Identify the PayPal account | Find the email address linked to the account – check the deceased’s inbox for PayPal receipts, or look at bank statements for the PayPal account name |
| 2 | Write a cover sheet | A short letter stating: your name and contact details, the deceased’s PayPal email address (or other identifying information), the date of death, and that you are requesting closure as executor or administrator |
| 3 | Gather documents | Death certificate, your photo ID, cover sheet, and – depending on the balance – either an indemnity form or grant of probate |
| 4 | Email PayPal | Send everything to bereavement@paypal.co.uk or use the Message Centre at paypal.com/uk/cshelp/contact-us |
| 5 | Await acknowledgement | PayPal’s team will respond and may request additional documents |
| 6 | Documents reviewed | PayPal’s legal team verifies the submission – typically 7–14 working days |
| 7 | Account closed | PayPal confirms closure in writing |
| 8 | Balance released | Funds paid out to the executor – allow a further 2–3 weeks |
By phone: 0800 358 7911 connects to PayPal’s general UK customer service line. It is useful for urgent matters – such as a large subscription renewing imminently or a dispute you need to flag – but document submission still happens by email.
If you cannot find the email address: PayPal can usually locate an account using the deceased’s mobile number, the last four digits of a linked bank card, or a recent transaction ID from a bank statement. Include whatever identifying information you have in your cover sheet.
Postal address: If you need to send original documents, PayPal UK’s registered address is 5 Fleet Place, London, EC4M 7RD.
What documents you will need
PayPal requires a small set of core documents, with one further requirement depending on the size of the balance.
Core documents (always required):
- Death certificate – original or certified copy. PayPal accepts scanned or photographed copies sent electronically.
- Your photo ID – a current UK passport or driving licence.
- Cover sheet – identifying the PayPal account and confirming you are acting as executor or administrator. Include your name, address, and contact details.
Additional requirements based on balance size:
| Situation | Additional requirement |
|---|---|
| Balance under £5,000 | Signed indemnity form (PayPal sends this after initial contact) |
| Balance of £5,000 or above | Grant of probate or letters of administration |
| Account has a balance and a will exists | Certified copy of the will identifying you as executor |
| No will (intestate) | Statement of your relationship to the deceased and your intended role as administrator |
| Multiple beneficiaries | Written confirmation from all named beneficiaries authorising you to act |
If the estate is small and you are not applying for probate, explain this when you first contact PayPal – the team can advise on what they will accept in your specific situation.
Certified copies of the death certificate cost £12.50 each in England and Wales. It is worth ordering several at the time of registering the death, as banks, pension providers, and HMRC will each want one. Order at gov.uk/order-copy-birth-death-marriage-certificate.
What happens to the PayPal balance?
Once PayPal verifies your documents, any balance is paid out to the executor or administrator of the estate.
How the balance is released: PayPal can transfer funds to a linked bank account, by wire transfer to a designated bank account, or to an executor’s own PayPal account. If the deceased held multiple currencies, PayPal converts these to GBP at its prevailing exchange rate before payment. PayPal does not charge for bereavement account closures or balance transfers.
Who can claim it: The executor named in the will, or the court-appointed administrator (confirmed by letters of administration). Next of kin without formal authority can sometimes arrange payment on smaller estates – contact PayPal’s bereavement team to discuss your situation.
Negative balance: If the account had a negative balance at the time of death – for example, from a disputed transaction or chargeback resolved against the account – this is an unsecured debt of the estate. Unsecured debts are paid from estate assets after funeral costs and secured debts (such as a mortgage), but before distributing to beneficiaries. (Source: gov.uk – dealing with the estate.)
(Source: PayPal UK – closing a deceased relative’s account, verified May 2026.)
PayPal Credit – the hidden debt
PayPal Credit is a regulated consumer credit product operated by PayPal UK Ltd (authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority – firm reference 996405). It functions as a revolving credit line that the account holder can use at checkout across participating retailers, including a deferred interest option on purchases above £99. It is not a separate bank loan, but it is a separate financial liability.
If the deceased had an outstanding PayPal Credit balance, it becomes an unsecured debt of the estate. The rules are the same as for any unsecured debt:
- The debt is paid from the estate, not by surviving relatives or next of kin – unless they were a co-borrower (which PayPal Credit does not offer).
- It ranks as an unsecured debt, settled after funeral costs and secured debts, but before distributing the estate to beneficiaries.
- If the estate cannot cover all debts, unsecured creditors – including PayPal Credit – may receive less than the full amount owed.
When you write to bereavement@paypal.co.uk, include a note in your cover sheet if there is an outstanding PayPal Credit balance. PayPal’s bereavement team will advise on how this is handled alongside the account closure – you will not need to contact a separate lender.
If you need independent advice on managing debts as part of the estate, StepChange provides free guidance on bereavement and debt.
(Sources: PayPal Credit FAQs, verified May 2026; gov.uk – dealing with the estate.)
PayPal Pay in 3 and Pay Later
Pay in 3 is a separate product from PayPal Credit. It lets shoppers split a purchase of between £20 and £3,000 into three equal interest-free instalments – one at checkout, two in subsequent months – debited automatically from a linked debit card or bank account. It is provided directly by PayPal UK Ltd.
Pay in 3 is not regulated by the FCA. PayPal’s own terms confirm this, which means the protections afforded by FCA-regulated consumer credit agreements – such as the right to a formal statement of account – do not apply. This does not affect how the debt is treated on death; it remains an unsecured debt of the estate regardless of regulatory status.
What happens to outstanding Pay in 3 instalments on death? PayPal’s Pay in 3 terms include a clause permitting PayPal to demand immediate repayment of the full outstanding balance if it has reasonable belief that the borrower has died or can no longer control their account. In practice, when you contact bereavement@paypal.co.uk, include a note about any outstanding Pay in 3 balances so the bereavement team can advise on how the remaining instalments will be settled from the estate. Do not expect PayPal to simply continue collecting the scheduled instalments – they may accelerate the debt.
As with PayPal Credit, Pay in 3 debt is an unsecured liability of the estate. Surviving relatives are not personally responsible for it unless they were a named co-borrower on the specific transaction (Pay in 3 does not support joint borrowers, so this should not arise). For a broader explanation of how unsecured debts are settled from an estate, see our guide on what happens to credit card debt when someone dies.
PayPal Pay Later is an umbrella term PayPal uses for Pay in 3 and PayPal Credit together. There is no distinct third product called “Pay Later” in the UK – if you see this term, it refers to one of the two products above.
| Product | Provider | FCA regulated? | Estate treatment |
|---|---|---|---|
| PayPal balance | PayPal UK Ltd | Yes (e-money) | Estate asset – claim via bereavement team |
| PayPal Credit | PayPal UK Ltd | Yes (consumer credit, ref 996405) | Unsecured estate debt |
| Pay in 3 | PayPal UK Ltd | No (unregulated BNPL) | Unsecured estate debt – may be accelerated |
(Sources: PayPal Pay in 3 terms, verified June 2026; PayPal UK – buy now pay later, verified June 2026.)
Tell Us Once and the Death Notification Service
Tell Us Once does not cover PayPal. Tell Us Once is a free government service that notifies central government departments – HMRC, DWP, DVLA, the Passport Office, and local councils – in a single step after a death is registered. It is designed for public-sector services and does not extend to private companies. PayPal must be notified directly.
The Death Notification Service (DNS) does not include PayPal. The DNS (operated by Equiniti in partnership with UK Finance) allows bereaved families to notify UK banks, building societies, and certain financial institutions in one online process. As of June 2026, more than 40 firms are members – predominantly high-street banks such as Barclays, Lloyds, HSBC, NatWest, Santander, and Nationwide. PayPal is not a member, and DNS notifications cannot be submitted on PayPal’s behalf. You must contact PayPal’s bereavement team directly at bereavement@paypal.co.uk.
(Source: deathnotificationservice.co.uk; gov.uk – Tell Us Once.)
Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland: In Scotland, probate is replaced by Confirmation – a certificate granted by the local Sheriff Court. If the PayPal balance is £5,000 or above, PayPal requires either a Grant of Probate (England and Wales) or a Certificate of Confirmation (Scotland). The document performs the same function and is accepted equivalently. Small Estates Confirmation (for total estates up to £36,000) is available in Scotland and may be sufficient if the overall estate is modest. You apply through the local Sheriff Court; the process takes around four to six weeks. (Source: mygov.scot – Confirmation.)
Northern Ireland: In Northern Ireland, the equivalent of probate is a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration issued by the Probate Office of Northern Ireland (part of the High Court). PayPal accepts these in the same way as an English or Welsh grant. The Northern Ireland threshold for a small estate affidavit procedure is lower, so professional advice may be useful if the PayPal balance is significant but the overall estate is modest.
For the practical closure process – emailing bereavement@paypal.co.uk with your documents – the steps are identical across all parts of the UK. The only difference is the formal authority document you enclose.
Business PayPal accounts
PayPal offers both personal and business accounts. If the deceased ran a business or side income through a business PayPal account, the process differs from personal account closure.
| Business type | Who handles closure |
|---|---|
| Sole trader | The executor or administrator – same document requirements as a personal account, plus any business registration documents if relevant |
| Limited company | The company’s directors, acting as legal representatives of the company – not the deceased’s family |
| Partnership | Surviving partners typically handle closure in line with the partnership agreement |
Business PayPal accounts may hold funds from outstanding invoices, pending refunds, or seller holds (if the deceased sold goods through the account). PayPal works through outstanding matters before releasing funds, which can extend the timeline.
If the deceased ran both an eBay business and a PayPal business account, note that eBay and PayPal are now entirely separate companies following their 2021 split. Contact each independently – closing one does not affect the other. See our guide on how to notify eBay when someone dies.
Subscriptions and recurring payments
This is often the most time-sensitive part of dealing with a PayPal account after a death. Billing agreements authorised through PayPal can continue to deduct from linked bank accounts or credit cards for weeks while the formal closure process is underway.
Common subscriptions to check: Streaming services (Netflix, Disney+, Spotify, Apple TV+), online gaming platforms, news sites, software licences, and charity donations may all be billed via PayPal agreements.
How to identify them: Search the deceased’s email inbox for terms like “PayPal billing agreement”, “automatic payment”, and “payment receipt from”. Bank statements will also show recurring PayPal charges.
How to stop them:
- Contact each merchant directly – inform them the account holder has died and ask them to cancel the subscription. Most will do so without requiring payment for future periods.
- Ask the deceased’s bank to block outgoing payments to PayPal – banks are obliged to act on this request. Speak to the bank’s bereavement team. This is a precautionary measure while the PayPal closure process runs.
- Do not rely on PayPal’s account closure alone – the formal closure takes weeks, during which billing agreements can continue to charge.
For a broader overview of this issue, see our guide on what happens to subscriptions when someone dies.
Honey Gold points – check before the account closes
PayPal Honey is a browser extension that earns Honey Gold points when you shop at participating retailers. Honey accounts can be linked to a PayPal account using the same login credentials.
The key fact for executors: unredeemed Honey Gold points are permanently forfeited when the linked PayPal account closes. PayPal’s terms explicitly state that if an account is closed, any points earned via that account can be reset to zero and will no longer be redeemable. (Source: PayPal Rewards Program Agreement, last verified May 2026.)
Before initiating the PayPal closure process, check whether the deceased had Honey installed on their browser (look for the Honey icon in Chrome, Firefox, or Safari). If they did:
- Go to joinhoney.com and log in with the deceased’s PayPal credentials (if you have them).
- Check the Honey Gold balance – even small balances can be redeemed for PayPal credit or a gift card.
- Redeem any available points before submitting the PayPal closure request.
If you cannot log in to the Honey account, contact Honey Member Experience at yourfriends@joinhoney.com. The Honey account and PayPal account are technically separate services – closing one does not automatically close the other – but the points will become worthless once the linked PayPal account is gone.
2FA and account access complications
PayPal uses two-factor authentication (2FA), which means logging in requires both a password and a one-time code sent to the account holder’s mobile phone or authentication app. If the deceased’s phone is unavailable – locked, lost, or wiped – you may be locked out even with the correct password.
Executors do not need to log in to close the account. The formal closure process (emailing bereavement@paypal.co.uk with documents) does not require account access – PayPal’s team handles the closure from their side.
However, there are two situations where access does matter:
- Reviewing subscriptions: Logging in lets you see active billing agreements and download transaction history before the account closes.
- Redeeming Honey Gold points: As noted above, this requires access to the Honey account.
If you cannot get past 2FA: The deceased’s phone, if available and unlocked, may show the SMS code on the lock screen without requiring the full passcode. If the phone is locked, the network provider cannot share messages but may help you access the device depending on circumstances. Alternatively, if the deceased used the PayPal app, a biometric unlock (face or fingerprint, if enrolled) may still work.
For the closure itself, none of this is required – the bereavement email process works without you ever logging in.
Tips and gotchas
PayPal is not a bank. The balance is e-money, which means it is not covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) that protects bank deposits up to £85,000. However, PayPal UK Ltd is required to safeguard customer funds separately from its own money. The practical risk is low, but it is worth understanding before treating a PayPal balance the same as a bank account.
PayPal.me links become inaccessible once the account is closed but do not need to be explicitly disabled – they simply cease to function. Anyone who tries to send money to the link after closure will receive an error. If the deceased had a PayPal.me link publicised anywhere (a business website, freelance profile, or social media), it is worth noting this for anyone who might try to use it.
Open disputes delay everything. If there was a pending chargeback, a disputed transaction, or an unresolved seller claim on the account at the time of death, PayPal will investigate these before closing the account and releasing funds. Mention any open matters in your initial contact so PayPal’s team can flag them early.
Linked cards can be blocked without closing the account. If you are concerned about charges while the PayPal closure gathers pace, the fastest route is to contact the deceased’s bank directly and ask them to cancel any continuous payment authority to PayPal. This stops outgoing charges from the linked card or bank account immediately, without waiting for PayPal’s process.
No phone-only resolution. PayPal’s 0800 number is general customer service and cannot accept documents over the phone. Even if you call first to discuss the situation, you will still need to email bereavement@paypal.co.uk with the paperwork. The phone line is most useful for time-sensitive issues – use it to alert PayPal about urgent matters, then follow up in writing.
Summary
| What | How |
|---|---|
| Notify PayPal | Email bereavement@paypal.co.uk with death certificate, your ID, and a cover sheet |
| Probate threshold | £5,000 – above this, grant of probate or letters of administration required |
| Balance under £5,000 | Signed indemnity form (PayPal sends this) |
| Timeline | 3–5 weeks from first contact to receiving funds |
| Stop subscriptions | Contact merchants directly and ask the bank to block PayPal payments |
| PayPal Credit debt | Unsecured debt of the estate – handled via same bereavement email |
| Pay in 3 instalments | Unsecured estate debt (unregulated) – PayPal may accelerate outstanding balance on death |
| Honey Gold points | Check and redeem before initiating closure – points are permanently forfeited on closure |
| Phone | 0800 358 7911 (urgent matters only – documents must still be emailed) |
| Tell Us Once | Not applicable – PayPal is a private company, not covered by this government service |
| Death Notification Service | Not a member – contact PayPal directly at bereavement@paypal.co.uk |
| Scotland | Certificate of Confirmation (Sheriff Court) replaces grant of probate – accepted by PayPal |
| Northern Ireland | Grant of Probate/Letters of Administration from NI Probate Office – accepted by PayPal |
For related guidance, see our complete guide to what to do when someone dies, how to notify eBay when someone dies, how to close a Vinted account when someone dies, how to notify Wise when someone dies, what happens to subscriptions when someone dies, what happens to digital assets when someone dies, what happens to direct debits when someone dies, what happens to credit card debt when someone dies, how to notify Klarna when someone dies, how to notify Clearpay when someone dies, and how to apply for probate.