Reset Phone

It may be possible to unlock the phone for use with another apple ID.

Make sure you have the recipt from when you purchased the iPhone, and contact apple support.

Contact Apple for support and service - Apple Support

Good luck!

I am so sorry about your loss. See this Apple support article—>How to request access to a deceased family member's Apple accounts - Apple Support

But if the device is locked with a passcode there is no way in the world to unlock it. Apple can’t do it. the typical hacker can’t do it. The FBI succeeded once to unlock one device (after Apple said it wasn’t possible), but they paid $ 1 million to an Israeli security firm to do it. And the method they used required removing the memory chips from the phone. And Apple fixed that vulnerability, so it can’t be used again. But with access to the Apple ID the phone can be reset remotely, and any backups can be restored to it or viewed.

Yeah, but that depends what the intent of OP is. if it is just to use the iPad you can erase the device, and the device is in activation lock. You can apply for apple to remove activation lock . If you can prove ownership to apple they can remove it.

And that is a lot less red tape than a court order no?

If that is the issue, yes. But Apple is very strict about removing Activation Lock. They won’t do it without the original sales receipt that shows you as the one who purchased the phone new from Apple or an Apple authorized reseller. If it was purchased by a family member they will require the same documentation as listed in the links that we provided for deceased recovery. If it was purchased used they won’t unlock it, period.

See this article: How to request access to a deceased family member's Apple accounts

That is for sure also relevant, but there is alot more red tape to get the account than the device.

The device is activation locked. Without the original proof of purchase in your name, the only way to have the lock removed is to gain access to the account used to lock it.