How to pass on Ancestry.com, 23andMe, FamilySearch, and digitized family photo archives
Money in a bank account eventually goes through probate or state unclaimed property if forgotten. Thirty years of family genealogy research does not. When the family genealogist passes away without leaving access to their Ancestry.com, 23andMe, MyHeritage, FamilyTreeDNA, or cloud photo accounts, priceless stories, handwritten census annotations, and DNA cousin matches can vanish behind a login wall forever.
What really happens to genealogy and DNA accounts when the account holder dies
- Ancestry.com & AncestryDNA: If your subscription stops renewing when your credit card is canceled, your family tree is not deleted — it remains stored in your free registered guest account. However, if you set the tree to Private (or nobody has your login to see living relatives' names, which Ancestry hides from public view automatically), your children cannot view or edit the full tree, download the raw .ged (GEDCOM) file, or manage your AncestryDNA matches unless you appointed a Tree Editor / DNA Manager or passed on your login.
- 23andMe & MyHeritage DNA: A deceased parent or grandparent's DNA profile is scientifically irreplaceable — once they are gone, that generation's autosomal DNA (which reaches twice as far back into the 1700s/1800s as a grandchild's DNA) can never be re-swabbed! Without the login credentials and 2FA code to download the Raw DNA Data file and manage cousin messages, that genetic bridge is locked.
- FamilySearch.org: Because FamilySearch uses a shared collaborative "One World Tree," public ancestors remain visible, but the deceased researcher's private Memories gallery, uploaded audio interviews, and personal Source Box cannot be managed without their account credentials.
- Digitized Photo Scanners & Archival Clouds (Forever.com, SmugMug, Dropbox, Google Photos, Mylio): Many family historians scan 10,000 old slides and negatives onto an external drive or paid photo-hosting site like SmugMug, Flickr Pro, or Dropbox. When their credit card fails after death (see canceling a deceased parent's subscriptions), paid cloud galleries can be purged after 60–90 days of non-payment!
Lock in the $3.99/month early-access price →Or $74.99 once for life. Your heirs never pay. Waitlist members keep the launch price.
How major genealogy and family history platforms handle inheritance
| Platform | Built-In Legacy / Manager Feature? | What Your Family Loses Without Login Access |
|---|---|---|
| Ancestry.com & AncestryDNA | Can invite an "Editor" to a Tree and a "Manager" to a DNA kit while alive; also allows formal estate transfer with death certificate | ✗ Living family branches, private notes, message inbox with distant cousins, and direct GEDCOM export |
| 23andMe / FamilyTreeDNA | ✗ Limited formal beneficiary tooling for full interactive relative matching | ✗ Raw DNA .txt/.zip download, Maternal/Paternal haplogroup tools, and DNA Relatives messaging |
| MyHeritage | Allows designating a beneficiary in Account Settings or contacting support with death certificate | ✗ Private family site photos, Smart Matches, and Family Tree Builder sync |
| Desktop Software (RootsMagic, Family Tree Maker, Gramps) | ✗ Stored locally on the deceased's Mac or Windows PC | ✗ 100% lost if the laptop is locked by BitLocker or FileVault or wiped before estate sale |
The 4-step Genealogy Preservation Checklist for your Heritkey vault
If you are the keeper of your family's history (or if your aging parent is — see organizing passwords for an aging parent), spend 5 minutes today protecting that legacy inside Heritkey (how Heritkey works):
- 1. Store your Ancestry, 23andMe, MyHeritage, and FamilySearch logins + 2FA info: Explicitly tell your heirs not to delete these accounts, and tell them they can downgrade Ancestry to a free "Registered Guest" account after exporting the tree so they don't have to pay $40/month forever.
- 2. Tell them how to export the universal .ged (GEDCOM) and Raw DNA files: In your Heritkey note, write: *"Log into Ancestry → Tree Settings → Export Tree to download the .ged file, and go to DNA Settings → Download Raw DNA Data. Keep both files backed up forever."*
- 3. Point to your local desktop databases and photo drives: If you use Family Tree Maker (.ftm) or RootsMagic (.rmtree) on your computer, or keep scanned TIFF/JPEG family albums on an external SSD or NAS, record the exact folder paths and computer password so nobody formats the computer!
- 4. Flag paid photo clouds (SmugMug, Flickr Pro, Dropbox, iCloud, Google One): Warn your executor which cloud storage bills must stay paid until a family member downloads all the original full-resolution family scans.
Frequently asked questions
Does Ancestry.com delete my family tree if I die and my subscription ends?
No! When a paid Ancestry subscription ends, your family tree, uploaded photos, and attached hints remain safely stored in your account as a free "Registered Guest" forever. Your heirs won't be able to open paid historical census images without renewing, but with your login (or Editor access) they can still view the entire tree and export the GEDCOM file for free.
Why is downloading an elderly parent's Raw DNA file from AncestryDNA or 23andMe so important?
Because each generation inherits only 50% of each parent's autosomal DNA, an 85-year-old parent's DNA contains genetic segments from 3rd, 4th, and 5th cousins that were never passed down to their children or grandchildren. Downloading their raw DNA data file preserves that genetic record forever and allows future family genealogists to upload it to GEDmatch, MyHeritage, or FamilyTreeDNA.
Can I name a beneficiary directly inside Ancestry.com?
In Ancestry, you can go to Tree Settings and invite a child or relative as an "Editor," and in DNA Settings you can assign them as the "Manager" of your DNA kit. Combining that with storing your full login and email credentials in Heritkey ensures nothing is ever stranded.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Laws on wills and digital assets differ between countries and states, so check with a lawyer where you live.