Manage an estate with Klarna
We understand that if you’re reading this, you’ve most likely lost someone close to you. We’re sorry for your loss, and we want to do everything we can to make this difficult time a little easier by reducing the administrative burden of managing an estate. We’re here to help with everything related to Klarna, including assets, balances, and any outstanding debts. You don’t need to worry about payments while the estate inventory is in progress. You’re of course welcome to contact us even if you’re not a Klarna customer yourself.
You don't need to worry about payments
As soon as we learn that a customer has passed away, we'll pause all outstanding payment obligations with Klarna. We'll put instalment plans on hold without adding new interest or fees, and pause invoice due dates. Everything will stay on hold while you complete the estate inventory, so you won't need to make payments or worry about due dates during this time.
Savings and balances
If the deceased had money in a Klarna account or savings account, we’ll freeze the balance to keep it secure. Once the estate inventory has been completed and we’ve verified who is authorised to represent the estate, we’ll transfer the funds to the estate’s bank account.
Debts and payment plans
Any outstanding Pay later purchases, instalment plans, and unpaid invoices belong to the estate. You are not personally liable for them. We’ll pause the payments immediately and settle them once the estate inventory has been completed.
Step 1
The early days
It’s best to let us know about the deceased person’s estate as soon as possible so we can support you. Klarna may be notified automatically by the Swedish Tax Agency, but this can sometimes take time. By contacting us directly, you can help us secure all accounts and pause payments sooner.
Let us know that someone has passed away
Notify us using our online form. You don't need to log in to the Klarna app or know all the account details, simply provide the deceased person’s name and personal identity number. The case will be opened immediately, and you can expect an initial response from us within three working days.
When Klarna is automatically notified by the Swedish Tax Agency, we'll send a letter to the deceased person’s last registered address with details of any next steps.
We'll pause payments and secure the account immediately. As soon as we're notified that the customer has passed away, you won't need to worry about upcoming Klarna payments. This happens automatically, so there's no need to call and request it.
Instalments and debts:
All active instalment plans will be paused. No additional interest or fees will be charged during this time. Due dates for invoices and outstanding payments will also be paused. Payments will remain paused until the estate inventory is complete and we settle the debts with the estate.
Savings and balances:
Any funds held in a Klarna account or savings account will be securely frozen. No withdrawals or transfers can be made from the account, but it can still receive incoming payments. The funds will be paid to the estate once the estate inventory has been registered and we’ve verified the receiving account.
Klarna will automatically do the following:
• Prevent any new purchases using Klarna as a payment method, online or in store
• Block the Klarna Card
• Disable app access to protect the account
• Cancel the Klarna membership
• Stop all marketing and communications
Submit documents and get a checklist
Your case manager will contact you by email within three working days with more information. Or email documents to efterlevandearenden@klarna.se.
Send clear photos or scans showing the entire document, including all four corners. This applies to both ID and supporting documents.
If there are several estate beneficiaries and one person will be handling everything, you'll need a power of attorney from all estate beneficiaries, in line with Swedish practice for estates. A power of attorney may also be required if a lawyer or estate administrator will represent the estate in dealings with Klarna.
Is the estate being managed under a will, by an estate administrator, or through trusteeship? If so, attach the relevant court or agency decision confirming who is authorised to act.
Email the documents to efterlevandearenden@klarna.se. The online notification is enough to open the case, but any payout requires a registered estate inventory (and, if there are several heirs, documented distribution of the estate).
Death certificate with family tree (Swedish Tax Agency)
A death certificate with family tree shows when a person died and lists their surviving relatives.
You can order the certificate from the Swedish Tax Agency. You’ll need it when managing the estate’s affairs with us and other authorities. You can send us a digital copy.
If the estate inventory has not yet been completed, a death certificate with family tree may be enough for us to provide an overview and begin processing the case. It’s a good first step, but in most cases we’ll need a registered estate inventory before we can pay out any assets.
ID and bank details for the estate
Make sure the person acting on behalf of the estate has valid photo ID ready. Send a clear copy showing the entire ID document, including all four corners. If the name or identity doesn’t match our records, we may ask for additional documents, such as a marriage certificate.
You’ll also need the bank account number (IBAN) for the estate’s account, so any remaining balance can be paid out once everything is finalised.
Step 2
Within four months
Once the estate has been registered with the Swedish Tax Agency, the estate inventory must be submitted within four months. We'll keep payment obligations on hold during this time, so you won't need to pay any instalments or invoices while the estate inventory is being prepared. We'll verify who is authorised to represent the estate and provide a clear overview of its assets and debts.
Draw up an estate inventory
An estate inventory is a written document listing the deceased person's assets and liabilities, as well as the beneficiaries of the estate. It must be registered with the Swedish Tax Agency.
Once we've verified that you're authorised, we'll send you a summary of the deceased person's Klarna accounts (equivalent to a balance and debt statement). We'll send the information by post to the deceased person's most recent registered address. We'll also send it as a PDF to the email address provided when the case was opened.
About the estate inventory
Once Klarna receives a death certificate with family tree, we can provide a complete overview of the accounts after verifying that you’re authorised to act on behalf of the estate.
Once we’ve received all the required documents, Klarna will review them within five working days. We’ll confirm in writing that you’re authorised to act on behalf of the estate and send you a clear overview of savings and balances, outstanding debts and instalment plans (which will remain paused, with no new fees), and any services that have already been closed.
The debts belong to the estate, not you
Any debts owed to Klarna (instalments, Pay later purchases, or invoices) are the responsibility of the estate. We won’t seek payment from you as an heir. Instalment plans and due dates have already been paused, with no further interest accruing. They’ll remain paused until the estate inventory is complete and we settle the debt with the estate.
Power of attorney
if there are multiple estate beneficiaries or you have a representative
If one person will be handling all communication with Klarna, we need a written power of attorney signed by all estate beneficiaries. The power of attorney may also authorise that person to receive payment following the distribution of the estate.
If a lawyer or estate administrator will be representing the estate, we need a power of attorney or another document confirming their authority. As with all other documents, scans must be clear and legible.
Step 3
At a later stage
Once the estate inventory has been registered and any distribution of the estate has been completed, we’ll pay out the assets and close all services. You’ll receive a clear confirmation when there’s nothing else you need to do.
Payments to the estate
Once the estate inventory has been registered with the Swedish Tax Agency and we've verified the estate's bank account, Klarna will pay out any remaining balance within seven business days. If several estate beneficiaries are sharing the assets, the distribution of the estate must be documented first.
If the deceased had a Klarna balance and savings account with a positive balance, you'll receive two forms. Choose the one that best fits your situation:
Payout to estate beneficiaries
– for distributing the funds directly among the beneficiaries.
– to transfer the funds to an account the deceased held with another bank.
When you email the completed form to efterlevandearenden@klarna.se, attach a clear scan of the original with all handwritten signatures, along with:
Registered estate inventory
Certified copy of valid photo ID for all estate beneficiaries
Estate distribution document, if applicable
Proof of account from the other bank showing both the account number and the account holder’s name, so we can verify that the account belongs to the estate, if applicable
Debts are settled through the estate
If the estate has assets, they’ll be used to settle the debts. If the estate is insolvent, we’ll write off any remaining debt. We won’t seek payment from individual heirs.
All services will end
Cards, app access, subscriptions, and Pay later purchases have already been stopped. We’ll now close the accounts permanently and confirm in writing once everything has been taken care of.
Once we've sent our final confirmation, you don't need to take any further action with Klarna regarding the deceased person’s accounts.
Contact us
We're here to support you and the estate. No login required.
Mon – Fri 8 am – 10 pm, Sat – Sun 8 am – 5 pm, closed on public holidays
Are you dissatisfied after contacting us? If you have already received a response from your case manager or customer service, you can request an impartial review from Klarna's Customer Ombudsman.
Frequently asked questions
No. Any debts belong to the estate. You are not personally liable for them. As soon as we’re notified about the estate, we’ll pause instalment payments, invoices, and due dates while the estate inventory is being completed, without adding any new interest or fees. We won’t pursue you for debt collection as an heir.
No. Once we’ve been notified that a customer has passed away, we pause all payments due to Klarna until the estate inventory is complete. Instalment plans won’t continue, and no interest will accrue during this time. This means you can focus on the estate inventory without worrying about overdue Klarna payments.
We’ll freeze any remaining balance to keep it secure. Once the estate inventory has been registered and we’ve verified the estate’s bank account, we’ll transfer the funds to the estate, not to you personally, unless you’re entitled to receive them under the distribution of the estate.
We aim to complete the process within 30 days of receiving all the required documents. The time frame often depends on the estate inventory and distribution of the estate being registered with the Swedish Tax Agency, rather than Klarna's processing time alone.
New purchases are blocked immediately. Any items that have already been shipped can still be delivered, and the cost will be handled by the estate. You won’t be personally liable for payment as an heir.
No. You should be able to complete the entire process without creating an account with us.
In most cases, we need a death certificate or a death certificate with family tree from the Swedish Tax Agency. If you haven't received it yet, for example, if the death occurred abroad, contact your case manager or email efterlevandearenden@klarna.se. We'll then assess whether temporary or other official documentation will be sufficient until the Swedish Tax Agency has registered the death.
Notify us about the estate with the information you have. The deceased's name and personal identity number are usually enough. We'll check our records and get back to you with a full picture.
We want you to feel well supported. Please contact your named case manager or efterlevandearenden@klarna.sefirst so we can help you directly. If you've already received a decision from us and are still unhappy, you can ask Klarna's Customer Ombudsman to review your case. They'll review it fairly and respond within 10 working days. The Customer Ombudsman reviews complaints that Klarna Customer Service has already handled.