What Happens to Your Domain Name Account When You Die
Quick Facts
Expiry
Lost permanently if not renewed
DNS
Site and email depend on it
Transfer
Auth code needed
Step-by-Step Guide
Note the registrar and expiry date
Document which registrar holds the domain and when it expires. Set a reminder well before the expiry date.
Enable auto-renewal
Ensure auto-renewal is enabled and the payment method on file will remain valid. This is the simplest way to prevent domain loss.
Export DNS records
Document all DNS records (A, CNAME, MX, TXT, etc.) for this domain. These are needed to recreate the configuration at another registrar.
Document what depends on this domain
List all websites, email addresses, and services that use this domain. Losing the domain affects all of these.
Document Now Checklist
- Domain name
- Registrar name and account login
- Expiry date and auto-renew status
- DNS records (A, CNAME, MX, TXT)
- List all websites and email addresses using this domain
Last verified: June 2026. Platform policies may change. Verify current procedures directly with Domain Name. This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
Related Guides
GitHub
GitHub has no formal memorialization process. Private repos become permanently inaccessible without account credentials. Add a trusted contact as org owner for any organizations you manage.
Vercel
Add a trusted person to your Vercel team with Admin role. This ensures deployments continue.
Netlify
Add a trusted person to your Netlify team. Team → Members → Invite.
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