Short answer: sometimes, but not automatically
The smoothest route is the one planned in advance through Google's Inactive Account Manager.
If Inactive Account Manager was set up
Google says the account owner can choose people to be notified or receive certain account data after inactivity.
That is the clearest pre-planned route for family access because it starts from the owner's own instructions instead of a later support request.
If no inactivity plan was set up
Google also says it may work with immediate family members and representatives to close a deceased user's account where appropriate.
Google further says that in certain circumstances it may provide content from a deceased user's account.
That is not the same as simple password handoff or immediate login access.
This question is different from the broader Google Account policy article
If you want the wider provider-level explanation, read What happens to a Google Account when someone dies?.
This page answers the narrower family-access question: can relatives actually get in, and what makes that more or less likely?
Why families still get stuck even when access may be possible
Even when access is possible, people often still do not know:
- which Google services matter
- whether Gmail, Drive, or YouTube data should be preserved
- what accounts outside Google are tied to that email address
That is why a broader digital estate plan still matters.
What to document if family may need this later
Document:
- whether Inactive Account Manager is configured
- which Google data matters most
- which Gmail address is the recovery hub
- what role the executor or trusted contact should play
- where the non-Google records live