What is a Legacy Contact?

A Legacy Contact is someone you choose to have access to the data in your Apple account after your death. 

In newer editions of Apple products, you can add a Legacy Contact for your Apple ID. Adding a Legacy Contact is the easiest, most secure way to give someone you trust access to the data stored in your Apple account after your death. The data may include photos, messages, notes, files, apps you've downloaded, device backups, and more. Certain information, like movies, music, books, or subscriptions you purchased with your Apple ID, and data stored in your Keychain—like payment information, passwords, and passkeys—can’t be accessed by your Legacy Contact. 

Your Legacy Contact can be anyone you choose, and you can designate more than one Legacy Contact. They don’t even need an Apple ID or an Apple device.

To file an access request after you pass away, they'll just need:

• The access key that you generate when you choose them as your contact 
• Your death certificate

Apple reviews requests from Legacy Contacts and gives them access to your Apple account data only after verifying this information. When access is approved, your Legacy Contact receives a special Apple ID that they can set up and use to access your account. Your Apple ID and password will no longer work, and Activation Lock is removed on any devices that use your Apple ID. 

To add a Legacy Contact for your Apple ID, you need:

• An Apple device running iOS 15.2, iPadOS 15.2, or macOS Monterey 12.1 that you’re signed in to with your Apple ID. 
• Two-factor authentication turned on for your Apple ID.
• To be over the age of 13.

Your Legacy Contact can be anyone you want. They can be any age, and they don’t need to have an Apple ID or an Apple device. 



Please visit this link for more specific and detailed information on setting up your device properly.