2019 Laptop purchased from relative of deceased owner, T2 chip locks me out, how do I proceed with Apple

For information about how to request access to a deceased family member's Apple account data, and possibly their equipment, click here --> How to request access to a deceased family member's Apple account - Apple Support

"While we may also be able to help remove Activation Lock from devices that use your loved one’s original Apple ID, their iPhone, iPod, and iPad will need to be restored to factory settings before they can be used with another Apple ID. Please note that devices locked with a passcode are protected by passcode encryption, and Apple can't help remove the passcode lock without erasing the device."

The person who inherited the computer would apply to Apple as in the article.

If you ended up with the original sales receipt you may be able to convince Apple that way.

Failing either of those you have unfortunately ended up with a useless piece of equipment.

More:

Apple has two related features, Activation Lock ( Activation Lock for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support ) and Find My ( iCloud+ - Find My - Apple ), which are designed to prevent anyone else from using a Mac if it's ever lost or stolen. Deactivation of either requires knowing the Apple ID and password that set the feature, or by placing a special request to Apple to reset the device. This Apple ID information essentially defines the current ownership of the device.

If you do not know the required information, are not the signed-in owner, or do not have Apple accepted proof of purchase, get the owner of the account to remove the lock (described in How to remove Activation Lock - Apple Support ), or return the device for a refund, or recycle the Mac. The device is otherwise useless to you. If the owner is unknown and has not provided contact information as a message showing in the login screen, there is no way to contact the owner unless the person who gave you the device knows them.

Here are additional resources if you are the account owner, can find the previous device owner, or have an Apple accepted proof or purchase:

● Read this article to learn how to remove Activation Lock either on the device itself or on the web --> How to remove Activation Lock - Apple Support

or this one for disabling Find My if activation lock has not yet engaged --> Turn off Find My on your iPhone or other devices - Apple Support

or if the owner no longer has access to a device it can can be removerd from Find My on iCloud.com. as described in this support article Remove a device from Find Devices on iCloud.com - Apple Support --> "You can use Find Devices on iCloud.com to temporarily remove a device from the Devices list or turn off Activation Lock on a device you already gave away or sold."

● Help with a lost Apple ID or password:

• For help with a forgotten Apple ID (this is likely an active email address or one used in the past), click here --> If you forgot your Apple ID email address or phone number - Apple Support

• For help with a forgotten Apple ID password, click here --> If you forgot your Apple ID password - Apple Support

● Reset device if you can prove to Apple's satisfaction you are the owner:

Apple can completely reset a device if a person can provide sufficient evidence of valid ownership. This is done online* at: Activation Lock support request - https://al-support.apple.com/#/additional-support Apple says, "Proof of ownership documentation is required," but does not provide many details in the article as to what is acceptable proof. Prior to this official service Apple typically required the original receipt** issued by Apple or an Apple Authorized Reseller and documented provenance (so typically it would be the first owner who does this, or a descendant with legal proof of ownership transfer). Note that while this will let you get use of the device again, it will not help you with lost access to an account.

* There is a special link for this service. To save time you should use it instead of https://getsupport.apple.com/ .

**Apple recommends you keep your receipt after you buy an Apple device. --> Keep your receipt after you buy an Apple device - Apple Support

Refer to this document for ways to contact Apple ➞ Choose your country or region - Official Apple Support

Select your country (also look for "other" regions), then a product. If you don't see one that handles your issue then keep experimenting with selections until you reach one that gets you a chat session or a telephone call and get the representative to redirect you.

or:

Contact Apple for support and service by telephone ➞ Contact Apple for support and service - Apple Support

I suspect they now have a rigid set of guidelines to which to adhere. A few years ago you could go to an Apple Store and they would basically judge each case based on its merits. This was before there was any official unlocking service. The downside was if a store wanted to they could just refuse everybody. Since then the whole thing has been formalized and works both ways. Now there is an online service and a recognized unlocking policy, but it also means a loss of flexibility. It is a disadvantage for those who have a valid but unusual situation that doesn't fit the guidelines, but it also likely deters clever thieves from using imaginative stories to talk Apple into unlocking stolen devices.