Heirs and estate executors can request access to transfer public or private repositories, download repository code backups, or delete the account.
You must prepare the following legal and physical documents before contacting the platform's support:
Open a ticket with GitHub Support under the category "Deceased User Account Access".
Provide the GitHub username or email address of the account owner.
Upload the Death Certificate and proof of legal authority over the estate.
Specify which repositories or data archives you need access to, or request a complete account deletion.
Upon verification, GitHub will transfer ownership of specific repositories or provide a downloadable archive.
GitHub will not hand over account passwords or allow direct sign-in. They only transfer ownership of specific organizations and repositories or provide code backup files.
For private active projects with team collaboration, adding co-owners or saving GitHub credentials in a secure vault is vital to prevent pipeline disruptions.
Disclaimer: This guide is for general informational purposes only. Policies and URLs of third-party platforms are subject to change. WealthPass is an independent digital safety vault and has no official affiliation with the service providers listed in this wiki directory.