How to Cancel Subscriptions and Memberships

Review the last 3 to 6 months of credit card and bank statements line by line, looking for recurring charges. Modern life often involves dozens of subscriptions that can easily be forgotten: streaming services (Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Premium, Audible), software (Microsoft 365, Adobe, antivirus, cloud storage), news and magazines, gym memberships, meal kits, subscription boxes, professional association dues, union dues, religious organization tithes, and charity recurring donations.

For each subscription, call the provider or log into the account online to cancel. When calling, say: "I need to cancel the account for [name] due to their passing. The account number is [number]." Most companies will cancel immediately upon receiving a death certificate, and many will refund the most recent charge or prorate a refund. Some companies (particularly gyms and cable providers) may require a death certificate mailed to a specific address — ask for the exact mailing address and process.

Do not forget about annual subscriptions that may not appear on recent monthly statements. Check for annual renewals of things like Amazon Prime, AAA, warehouse club memberships (Costco, Sam's Club), professional licenses, domain name registrations, and insurance policies that bill annually. If you have access to the deceased's email, search for "receipt," "subscription," "renewal," and "payment" to find services that may not appear on bank statements (some may be paid through PayPal, Apple Pay, or Google Pay). Keep a checklist of every subscription you discover and mark each one as canceled with the date and confirmation number.