The Death Readiness Score measures how much control a platform gives you and your family over what happens to your data after death.
The score is objective and computed automatically. It is not an opinion.
How it works
The score equals the number of supported features, out of six. Each feature counts equally.
A platform supporting all six features scores 6/6. A platform supporting only deletion scores 1/6.
Examples
Supports Transfer, Deletion, Legacy Contact, Download, and Inactivity via its Inactive Account Manager. Does not offer a memorialization feature.
Supports Transfer, Memorial, Deletion, Legacy Contact, and Download. No automatic inactivity policy — the account persists unless someone acts.
Apple
4/6Supports Transfer, Deletion, Legacy Contact, and Download via Legacy Contacts. No memorial or inactivity features.
Spotify
1/6Supports Deletion only. No formal death policy, no data transfer, no legacy contact, no data export for heirs.
Steam
1/6Supports Deletion only. Valve has explicitly confirmed that accounts cannot be inherited or transferred, even through a will.
What the score does not measure
This score reflects the breadth of options a platform provides. It does not measure how easy the process is, how responsive their support team is, how long it takes, or how clearly their policy is documented. Those dimensions may be added in future versions.
Future versions
Version 1.0 treats all six features equally. Future versions may introduce weighted scoring — for example, Legacy Contact might be worth more than Deletion because it requires proactive design from the platform and lets users plan ahead while they're alive.
Version changes will be documented on this page. The current formula will always be published so that anyone can independently verify any score.
Current version: v1.0
Last updated: March 2026