Minor’s Apple ID still controlled by deceased parent (Family Sharing / Activation Lock) , what's the safest way forward?
Hello,
I am looking for guidance on a complex Family Sharing and Apple ID situation involving a minor and a deceased parent. I have visited the Apple Store twice and spoken with AppleCare four times, but so far I have not been able to resolve the issue.
Context:
- My nephew is 12 years old.
- His Apple ID was originally created by his father under Family Sharing.
- The father was the Family Sharing organizer.
- The father has passed away.
- The mother is now the sole legal guardian.
The child can unlock his iPhone and iPad normally (passcode / Face ID work), but the devices are no longer usable in practice.
After we added an iPad (iPad Pro 2019) to the child’s Apple ID last week, the iPhone automatically removed all apps that had previously been approved by the father. Since then, the iPhone constantly displays prompts requesting approval from the deceased father’s Apple ID. These prompts interrupt navigation so frequently that the iPhone is practically unusable, including for basic tasks such as making phone calls.
The child currently cannot:
- Download apps
- Make purchases
- Erase the devices from Settings
All of these actions require approval from the deceased father’s Apple ID.
Important details
- We can access Settings on both devices (iPhone and iPad).
- We have not erased or restored either device yet, it is not even possible.
- Attempting to erase the iPhone or iPad from Settings requires the father’s approval.
The most recent guidance from AppleCare suggested using recovery mode (connecting the devices to a computer and restoring them) to bypass Screen Time restrictions, then creating a new Apple ID for the child. However, from what I have read online, there is skepticism about this approach, because after restoring, the device may still request the father’s Apple ID and password due to Activation Lock, potentially leaving the iPhone or iPad unusable.
We do not care about preserving the child’s existing Apple ID or any data. Our priority is simply for the child to be able to use his iPhone and iPad normally again, even if that means starting fresh with a new Apple ID.
Concern: Activation Lock
My concern is Activation Lock. I understand that:
- Recovery mode bypasses Screen Time and Family Sharing restrictions.
- However, if Find My / Activation Lock is enabled under the father’s Apple ID, the device may still require the father’s Apple ID after a restore.
Given that:
- The child was under 13
- The father was the Family Sharing organizer
- Erase from Settings is blocked without the father’s approval
I am trying to determine:
- Whether recovery mode + restore is safe in this situation
- Whether Activation Lock is likely to appear and block the devices
- Whether there is a reliable way to confirm which Apple ID controls Activation Lock before restoring
Additional information
We have the father’s death certificate. We also have legal documentation showing the mother is now the sole legal guardian. We have one of the original purchase receipts (iPad Pro) registered under the child’s Apple ID.
The father’s own iPhone was not protected by a passcode. After his death, another child signed out of the father’s Apple ID on that device and signed in with their own Apple ID. As a result, access to the father’s Apple ID is no longer possible, and removing the minor from the deceased father’s Family Sharing account is not an option.
If the recommended and safest path is instead to go through Apple’s Activation Lock removal process using documentation, we are prepared to do so; we would simply like confirmation that this is the correct approach.
Additional question
One additional question we have is whether there is any possibility for Apple to delete or formally close the deceased father’s Apple ID, and if so, whether that action would automatically:
- Release the child from the deceased father’s Family Sharing account
- Remove any Screen Time and purchase approval requirements tied to the father
- Release the iPhone and iPad from any Activation Lock or Find My association linked to the father’s Apple ID
In other words, if Apple were to close the father’s Apple ID based on a death certificate and legal documentation, would the child’s devices and Apple ID become usable as an independent account (at least temporarily), allowing us to later add the child to the mother’s Family Sharing account?
We are unsure whether this is something Apple supports in practice, or whether device-level Activation Lock must still be handled separately, even after an Apple ID is closed.
Thank you.
