Free guide · Always free to use
Executor quick-start guide
If someone you love has passed away and left you a Kind Closure file, this guide explains what to do — gently, step by step. There is no rush, and you are not alone in this.
Take your time. Closing digital accounts is administrative work — it can wait until you feel ready. This portal is here whenever you need it, at no cost.
What is the .legacy file?
A .legacy file is an encrypted document your loved one created before they passed away. It contains a list of their online accounts — Facebook, email, Netflix, banking apps, and more — along with their wishes for each one.
It does not contain passwords. It is a map and a set of instructions, locked with a passphrase only they (and whoever they told) knew.
The file might be on a USB stick, in an email attachment, saved on a cloud drive, or kept with their will or solicitor. It will be named something like kind-closure-jane-smith.legacy.
Where do I get the passphrase?
The passphrase is a secret word or phrase your loved one chose to lock the file. You need both the file and the passphrase to open it.
They may have shared it with you by:
- A separate letter kept with their will
- Telling their solicitor (stored separately from the file)
- A sealed envelope given to a trusted family member
- A verbal instruction — if you were told directly
For security, the passphrase was never stored by Kind Closure. If you cannot find it, the file cannot be opened — please check with their solicitor or whoever helped them prepare their affairs.
Does Kind Closure send emails for me?
No. Nothing is sent automatically.
Kind Closure cannot contact Facebook, Google, Netflix, or any other company on your behalf. When you unlock the file, the portal prepares the exact emails and form text you need — but you send themfrom your own email account, or paste them into each company's official website.
The progress checklist simply helps you track what you have done. Ticking a box does not notify anyone.
What documents will companies ask for?
Most companies require proof before they will close an account or stop billing. Gather these when you can — you may not need every document for every company.
Death certificate
A certified copy is required by most companies before they will close an account or cancel a subscription.
Order a certified copy on GOV.UKProof of your authority
Grant of Probate, Letters of Administration, or an excerpt from the will naming you as executor. Some companies accept a simpler proof — each will tell you what they need.
Photo identification
Government-issued ID (passport or driving licence) may be requested when submitting forms or emails on behalf of the estate.
Account details
The registered email, username, or profile URL for the account being closed. The Kind Closure file lists these for you once unlocked.
Official resources for executors
Free official links executors often need. Kind Closure earns no commission — these are provided to help you, not to sell anything.
- Order a death certificateGOV.UKCertified copies are required by most companies. Order online from the General Register Office via GOV.UK.
- Register a deathGOV.UKHow to register a death in England and Wales, including what the registrar will give you.
- Tell Us OnceGOV.UKReport a death to HMRC, DWP, passport office, DVLA, and council in one step. You need a reference number from the registrar first (within 28 days).
- Probate and estate administrationGOV.UKWhen you need Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration, and how to apply.
What to do — step by step
- 1
Find the .legacy file and passphrase
These were prepared by your loved one and should have been shared separately — often with their will, a letter to you, or via their solicitor.
- 2
Open the Executor Portal
Go to kindclosure.co.uk/executor. Upload the file and enter the passphrase. Everything happens in your browser — nothing is uploaded to our servers.
- 3
Review their wishes
You will see every account they mapped and what they wanted done — delete, cancel, memorialise, or transfer.
- 4
Use the Account Closure Engine
For each account, open the instructions, copy the prepared email or form text, and submit it yourself to the company.
- 5
Tick off progress
Use the checklist to track which companies you have notified. This is for your records only — nothing is sent when you tick a box.
I cannot open the file
Double-check the passphrase — it is case-sensitive. If it still fails, you may have the wrong file or the wrong passphrase. Contact whoever prepared their will or estate plan.
Is this a legal will?
No. Kind Closure is an administrative planning tool. It helps you close digital accounts but does not replace legal probate or a valid will. Speak to a solicitor for legal estate matters.
Does this cost anything?
The Executor Portal is always free. We believe families should not pay to close a loved one's accounts during grief.
Ready to open the Executor Portal?
Upload the .legacy file, enter the passphrase, and the Account Closure Engine will guide you through each company.
Open Executor Portal