eBay after a death: open listings, payouts and the account

Start with the money and the live listings

Before you touch the account settings, look at what is actually happening on it. Are there items listed right now that people can still buy? Are there orders paid for but not yet shipped? Is there a payout on its way to a bank account? Those three things come first because they involve other people and real money.

If you can get into the account, write down the open orders and the current listings. Take screenshots if that is easier. You do not need to fix anything in the first hour. You just need a clear picture.

If you cannot get in

Many families do not have the password, or the phone that receives the login codes is locked. That is common, and it does not mean nothing can be done. eBay has a process for family members and for people handling an estate. The exact steps and the papers they ask for change over time, so check eBay's current help page for the exact steps before you gather documents.

Usually you will be asked to show that the person has died and that you have the authority to act. A death certificate is normally part of it. Our guide on death certificates and how many you need can help you plan copies. If you are the executor or the person named to sort out the estate, keep that paperwork together in one folder.

Open listings and orders

Listings that are still live will keep selling until someone ends them. If the family does not want to keep selling, end the listings. If an item has already sold and been paid for, the buyer is expecting it. Someone needs to either ship it or cancel the order and refund the buyer. eBay's help pages explain how to cancel and refund.

If the seller was running a small business and someone in the family wants to keep it going, that is a bigger decision. It may be possible to keep the account active and hand it to another person, but the rules and the steps depend on the account type. Ask eBay what they need for that change.

Payouts and stored cards

• Check whether a payout is pending and where it is going.
• Look at the bank account linked for payouts. If it is closed or frozen, the money may bounce back.
• Remove or update stored payment cards so future fees are not charged to a card that is being cancelled.
• Check for any selling fees still owed, and settle them from the estate if needed.

If the linked bank account is the person's sole account, it may be frozen while the estate is sorted out. That does not stop the payout from being sent, but it can stop you from getting to it quickly. Talk to the bank about what they need. Our guide on joint and sole accounts explains the difference.

Messages from buyers

Buyers may message the account asking where their item is. If you can get in, reply briefly and kindly. Say the seller has died and that you are sorting out the order. Most people are understanding. If you cannot get in, eBay can help you respond or close things down.

Do not promise refunds or shipping dates you cannot keep. A short honest reply is better than silence.

What the seller can set up now

If you sell on eBay, write down the things your family would need if you died or could not manage the account. You do not have to share your password. Instead, leave a note that says where the account lives, what it sells, and who should take over.

• The email address linked to the account.
• The bank account that receives payouts.
• Whether the account is personal or a business shop.
• Any listings that run continuously and would need ending.
• The name of the person you want to hand it to, if anyone.

Put that note in your envelope under Business and side income. SuddenGone keeps it sealed on your own device and hands it over only after a verified death, or to the person you choose during a long incapacity. You can read more about how it works.

If you want a simple list of everything else to gather, our checklist covers the accounts and papers families most often need.