Hi,

My father passed away earlier this year and we would like to get his account deleted before the automatic nine month inactivity cut-off due to spam emails being sent via his email account which, as you can imagine, is obviously distressing.

Can someone from hotmail please inform me of how we go about doing this?

Many thanks,

Rob Harding

Hello Robert Harding,

I’m sorry to hear about your loss.  I’d like to inform you that it’s MSN/Windows Live Policy that we don’t reset the password of accounts of deceased or incapacitated individuals. Instead, after the required paperwork has been submitted and validated, we’ll provide the contents of the account on a CD.

Microsoft is very concerned about our users’ online security.  Because of the nature of your request, we must ask for some personal info to verify that you’re the executor of the account holder’s estate or the power of attorney before we release the account details to you.

Follow these steps to submit the request:

1. Fax or mail the request to the Custodian of Records.

- Fax number: (425) 708-0096

Note: Users who are calling from outside the United States must dial 001 (425) 708-0096.  001 is the country code for the United States.

Attention: Custodian of Records 

- Mailing address:

Windows Live/MSN Compliance
1065 La Avenida, Building 4
Mountain View, CA 94043
Attn: Custodian of Records
 
2. Provide the following items with the request:

- An e-mail address that can be used to contact you in case of questions
- A shipping address to ship the data to

Note: We can’t send data to a P.O. box.

- A document that states that you’re the benefactor or the executor to the deceased’s estate and/or that you have power of attorney for an incapacitated customer and/or are next of kin
- A photocopy of your driver’s license or other government-issued identification
- A photocopy of the death certificate
- The following information about the account:

Note: Fill in the info as well as you can.  Don’t leave blank.

- Account name

Note: Include the account name on all page of any faxed or mailed documents.

- First and last name of the person who owns the account
- Date of birth
- City, state, and ZIP Code/Postal Code
- The approximate date of account creation
- The approximate date of last sign in

Note: If you’re from a non-English-speaking country, we ask that you send the request in English if possible.  However, any legal documents, such as a death certificate or a driver’s license may be sent in the original language.  Any translations don’t have to be certified or endorsed.

The Custodian of Records will contact you within five business days of receipt of all required documents.  After the Custodian of Records verifies your identity, we’ll give you a CD that contains the contents of the e-mail account.  This includes all contacts and mail. 

Thanks

Hi,

My dad passed away a few weeks ago and I know he has 2 hotmail accounts. Can you tell me how to access the mail in his accounts? From what I can find there is some paperwork we need to fill out in order to receive a CD with his e-mails. Also, how long does it take once I send in the paperwork to gain access to his mail?

Thanks,

Liane

I see that you've got a similar post in here. I've joined your post to this thread so you can easily check out the answer of my co-moderator, Windows Live Benji O.

Windows Live Benji O.:

I’m sorry to hear about your loss.  I’d like to inform you that it’s MSN/Windows Live Policy that we don’t reset the password of accounts of deceased or incapacitated individuals. Instead, after the required paperwork has been submitted and validated, we’ll provide the contents of the account on a CD.

Microsoft is very concerned about our users’ online security.  Because of the nature of your request, we must ask for some personal info to verify that you’re the executor of the account holder’s estate or the power of attorney before we release the account details to you.

Follow these steps to submit the request:

1. Fax or mail the request to the Custodian of Records.

- Fax number: (425) 708-0096

Note: Users who are calling from outside the United States must dial 001 (425) 708-0096.  001 is the country code for the United States.

Attention: Custodian of Records 

- Mailing address:

Windows Live/MSN Compliance
1065 La Avenida, Building 4
Mountain View, CA 94043
Attn: Custodian of Records
 
2. Provide the following items with the request:

- An e-mail address that can be used to contact you in case of questions
- A shipping address to ship the data to

Note: We can’t send data to a P.O. box.

- A document that states that you’re the benefactor or the executor to the deceased’s estate and/or that you have power of attorney for an incapacitated customer and/or are next of kin
- A photocopy of your driver’s license or other government-issued identification
- A photocopy of the death certificate
- The following information about the account:

Note: Fill in the info as well as you can.  Don’t leave blank.

- Account name

Note: Include the account name on all page of any faxed or mailed documents.

- First and last name of the person who owns the account
- Date of birth
- City, state, and ZIP Code/Postal Code
- The approximate date of account creation
- The approximate date of last sign in

Note: If you’re from a non-English-speaking country, we ask that you send the request in English if possible.  However, any legal documents, such as a death certificate or a driver’s license may be sent in the original language.  Any translations don’t have to be certified or endorsed.

The Custodian of Records will contact you within five business days of receipt of all required documents.  After the Custodian of Records verifies your identity, we’ll give you a CD that contains the contents of the e-mail account.  This includes all contacts and mail. 

Thanks

thanks for this but what if i don't want to access his account and simply want the account closed for the reasons i discussed.  Is there a different process in that instance?

Many thanks,

Robert Harding

Hi Robert Harding,

You can request this from the Custodian of Records and have them process your request to close the account after they have provided you the account information in a CD.

Thanks

My wife has died very suddenly. Although I have been able to contact all of our friends, I want to be sure that all of her friends are aware and will have funeral arrangements. Hotmail was her only email account - is there any way I can open her account, as I do not know her password.

Thank you

@ tonypensom

I joined your post on this thread. Please refer to the previous response of Benji to know what to do.