How to Access a Deceased Person's Voicemail on Verizon

If someone you love has passed and you're trying to reach their voicemails on Verizon before they disappear, you're in the right place. Those messages hold something precious—a recording of their voice that can be lovingly recreated in a keepsake you'll treasure forever.

Here's what you need to know: Verizon typically retetes voicemails after 40 days, and once an account is canceled, access becomes much harder. Time matters here. Let's walk through your options, starting with the fastest paths.

Act Quickly: The Voicemail Deletion Timeline

Verizon's voicemail system automatically deletes messages based on these general timeframes:

• New (unheard) voicemails: Deleted after approximately 14 days
• Saved voicemails: Deleted after approximately 40 days
• After account cancellation: Voicemails may become inaccessible immediately

If the account is still active, you have more options. If it's already been canceled, skip to the section on working with Verizon's estate services.

Option 1: If You Have Physical Access to Their Phone

This is the fastest and most reliable method. If you have your loved one's phone and it's still connected to Verizon service:

For Visual Voicemail (iPhone or Android)

1. Open the Phone app on their device
2. Tap the Voicemail tab at the bottom
3. Scroll through the list to find their saved messages
4. Tap any voicemail to play it
5. Save immediately: On iPhone, tap the share icon and save to Files or Voice Memos. On Android, look for a share or save option (varies by device)

For detailed instructions on saving these files permanently, see our guide on how to download a voicemail as an audio file.

For Traditional Voicemail (Calling In)

If visual voicemail isn't set up, you can access messages the old-fashioned way:

1. From their phone, press and hold 1 or dial their own number
2. If prompted for a PIN, try common choices they may have used (last four of SSN, birthday, 1234, 0000)
3. Listen to messages and note which ones you want to save
4. To save a voicemail while listening: Press 9 after the message plays (this marks it as saved, buying you more time)

Option 2: Call Into Voicemail From Any Phone

If you don't have their device but know their phone number and voicemail PIN:

1. Call their Verizon phone number from any phone
2. When their voicemail greeting plays, press * to interrupt
3. Enter their voicemail PIN when prompted
4. Navigate the menu to listen to saved messages

Don't know the PIN? Unfortunately, there's no way to reset it without access to the account. You'll need to work with Verizon directly (see below).

Option 3: Using the My Verizon App or Website

If you have login credentials for their My Verizon account:

1. Download the My Verizon app or go to verizon.com
2. Sign in with their credentials
3. Navigate to Account > My devices
4. Select their phone line
5. Look for voicemail settings or visual voicemail options

Note: The My Verizon portal doesn't always provide direct voicemail playback, but it can help you manage account settings and potentially reset the voicemail PIN if you have full account access.

Option 4: Contact Verizon as an Authorized Representative

If you don't have device access or login credentials, you'll need to work with Verizon's customer service as an estate representative.

Documents You'll Need

Gather these before calling—it will save you significant time:

• Death certificate (certified copy)
• Proof of your relationship: Executor documentation, letters testamentary, or proof you're next of kin
• Account holder information: Their full name, phone number, last four of SSN if known, billing address
• Your government-issued ID

How to Contact Verizon

1. Call 1-800-922-0204 (Verizon Wireless customer service)
2. Say "deceased account holder" or "estate services" when prompted
3. Explain that you need to access voicemails before the account is closed
4. Be prepared to fax or email your documentation

What to ask for specifically:

• Request that voicemails be preserved while your request is processed
• Ask if they can provide voicemail audio files directly (policies vary)
• If they can't provide files, ask them to keep the line active long enough for you to retrieve them

Verizon's Typical Process

Verizon will likely:

1. Verify your documentation
2. Add you as an authorized user or transfer account access to you
3. Allow you to access the voicemail system

This process can take 3-10 business days, so emphasize the urgency around voicemail preservation. Be patient but persistent—you may need to call more than once and speak with a supervisor.

Recording Voicemails for Safekeeping

Once you can play the voicemails, your next step is capturing them permanently. Here are your options:

Quick Method: Screen Recording

On iPhone or Android, start a screen recording before playing the voicemail on speaker. This captures the audio directly.

Better Quality: Direct Export

If using visual voicemail, tap the share button and export the audio file directly. This preserves the original quality. Our guide on saving voicemails on iPhone for a memorial walks through this in detail.

Backup Method: External Recording

Play the voicemail on speaker and record with another device. Not ideal quality, but it works in a pinch.

If the Account Has Already Been Canceled

This is the hardest situation. Once a Verizon account is fully canceled, voicemails are typically deleted from their servers.

However, it's still worth calling Verizon estate services to ask:

• How recently was the account closed?
• Is there any backup retention period?
• Can they check if any voicemail data remains?

If the voicemails are truly gone from Verizon, check whether any were forwarded to email (some visual voicemail setups do this automatically) or if you have old voicemails from them saved on your own phone. Our guide on recovering deleted voicemails covers additional recovery options.

Bringing Their Voice Home in a Keepsake Bear

Once you've saved those voicemails, they become the source for something truly special. From even a short clip—a quick "call me back" or a longer message—we can lovingly recreate their voice and bring it home inside a soft keepsake bear that speaks in their voice again with every hug.

Many families find deep comfort in this transformation—turning a saved recording into something you can hold close.

Whether you have a clear voicemail or just a few seconds of their voice, that's all we need to recreate their voice in a meaningful keepsake.

For ideas on creating something tangible from these recordings, see our guide on making a voice recording keepsake from a memorial.

A Note on Privacy and Legal Considerations

Accessing a deceased person's voicemail is generally permitted for executors and immediate family members handling estate matters. However:

• Don't share voicemails publicly without considering who else might be in them
• If there are legal proceedings involving the estate, consult an attorney before accessing or deleting anything
• Keep copies of all documentation you submit to Verizon

You're Doing the Right Thing

Trying to save your loved one's voice isn't silly or sentimental—it's deeply human. Those voicemails might be a quick "call me back" or a longer message, but they carry something irreplaceable: the sound of someone you love.

Take it one step at a time. Gather your documents, make the call, and be gentle with yourself through the process. The effort you're putting in now means their voice can be lovingly recreated—so you can hear them speak again whenever you need it.