What Happens to Your Stripe Account When You Die
Quick Facts
Payout balance
May have funds pending
Subscriptions
Active recurring revenue
Connected bank
Verify payout destination
Business asset
Significant value
Step-by-Step Guide
Check the Stripe balance immediately
Log into the Stripe Dashboard → Balance. Note any pending payouts, available balance, and reserve amounts. This is money the business is owed.
Estimated time: Day 1
Review active subscriptions and customers
Go to Billing → Subscriptions to see active recurring revenue. These subscriptions may represent the core business revenue. Document the total MRR (monthly recurring revenue).
Estimated time: Day 1-3
Add a team member with admin access
Go to Settings → Team → Invite team member → Administrator role. Ensure a trusted person has full dashboard access immediately.
Estimated time: Day 1
Verify payout bank account
Check Settings → Bank accounts and scheduling. Ensure the payout destination is still valid and accessible. If the bank account will be closed, update it to an estate account FIRST.
Estimated time: Week 1
Get professional valuation if selling
A Stripe account with active subscribers is a valuable business asset. If selling the business, the subscriber base and revenue history are key valuation factors. Consult a business broker.
Estimated time: Month 1+
Document Now Checklist
- Stripe login email and password
- Account ID (starts with acct_)
- Connected bank account for payouts
- API keys location (for developers)
- Approximate monthly revenue/MRR
- Whether Stripe Atlas was used for incorporation
Last verified: June 2026. Platform policies may change. Verify current procedures directly with Stripe. This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
Related Guides
Domain Names (GoDaddy, Namecheap, Cloudflare)
Domains expire on a specific date. If not renewed, they become publicly available and can be registered by anyone.
Shopify
If you have an active Shopify store, orders may continue coming in. Your executor needs access immediately to fulfill or refund.
GitHub
Transfer important private repositories to a trusted collaborator or organisation. Go to Repo Settings → Transfer.
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