Email inactive, can't varify iCloud account with new email, now what?

If you are being prompted to verify the old address when you add it to your current ID, that's an indication that it was never previously associated with your current ID. In that case, the steps listed earlier will not work. You will instead have to provide the password for the old ID in order to turn off Find My iDevice so you can delete (sign out of) the old account.

Change your ID back to the way it was before you started. Then save any photo stream photos that you wish to keep to your camera roll. When finished go to Settings>iCloud, tap Sign Out (or Delete Account), choose Delete from My iPhone (your iCloud data will still be in iCloud) and provide your password when prompted.* Then go to Settings>iCloud and sign back in with your current iCloud ID and password (your data will download back to your device).

* If you don't know the password for the old ID or it isn't accepted, you'll have to reset the password as discussed here: iCloud: Change your iCloud password. If you are unable to reset the password yourself, contact the Apple account security team for your country and for assistance: Apple ID: Contacting Apple for help with Apple ID account security. If your country isn't listed, contact iTunes store support by filling out this form: https://www.apple.com/emea/support/itunes/contact.html.

If your only issue is verifying the email account, make sure you check both the junk/spam folder as well as the inbox. If it isn't there despite resending the verification email, call Apple support (Contact Apple for support and service - Apple Support) and tell the person that answers that you are having trouble with your Apple ID and need assistance. That way you shouldn't be charged for the call even if you don't have AppleCare.

If your phone is signed into an old iCloud ID and you are trying to change it to a newer version of the ID, do the following:

If you are using iMessage and FaceTime, make sure you are signed into these services with your current ID. If they are signed into the old ID, go to Settings>Messages>Send & Receive and Settings>FaceTime, tap the ID, sign out, then sign back in with your current ID.

Then temporarily recreate the old ID by going to https://appleid.apple.com, click Manage my Apple ID and sign in with your current iCloud ID. Click edit next to the primary email account, change it back to your old email address and save the change. (You should not have to verify the old email account so it doesn’t matter if you no longer have access to it.) Now go to Settings>iCloud, turn off Find My iPhone and enter your current password when prompted (even though it prompts you for the password for your old ID). Then save any photo stream photos that you wish to keep to your camera roll. When finished go to Settings>iCloud, tap Sign Out and choose Delete from My iPhone when prompted (your iCloud data will still be in iCloud). Next, go back to https://appleid.apple.com and change your primary email address back to the way it was. Now you can go to Settings>iCloud and sign back in with your current iCloud ID and password (your data will download back to your device).