diff --git a/doc/maintenance.md b/doc/maintenance.md
index 5377f0b119e..aa8ac38471e 100644
--- a/doc/maintenance.md
+++ b/doc/maintenance.md
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ making releases, creating packages, etc.
 
 If you want to make a contribution to the project, see the {doc}`contributing` instead.
 
-## Onboarding Access Checklist
+## Onboarding/Offboarding Access Checklist
 
 Note that anyone can contribute to PyGMT, even without being added to the
 [GenericMappingTools team](https://github.com/orgs/GenericMappingTools/teams).
@@ -15,23 +15,31 @@ communication tools we use.
 
 ### As a Contributor
 
-- Added to the [pygmt-contributors team](https://github.com/orgs/GenericMappingTools/teams/pygmt-contributors) (gives 'write' permission to the repository)
-- Added as a collaborator on [DAGsHub](https://dagshub.com/GenericMappingTools/pygmt/settings/collaboration) (gives 'write' permission to dvc remote storage)
-- Added as a member on [HackMD](https://hackmd.io/@pygmt) (for draft announcements) [optional]
+- Add to the [pygmt-contributors team](https://github.com/orgs/GenericMappingTools/teams/pygmt-contributors) (gives 'write' permission to the repository)
+- Add as a collaborator on [DAGsHub](https://dagshub.com/GenericMappingTools/pygmt) (gives 'write' permission to dvc remote storage)
+- Add as a member on [HackMD](https://hackmd.io/@pygmt) (for draft announcements) [optional]
 
 ### As a Maintainer
 
-- Added to the [pygmt-maintainers team](https://github.com/orgs/GenericMappingTools/teams/pygmt-maintainers) (gives 'maintain' permission to the repository)
-- Added to "Active Maintainers" on the {doc}`Team Gallery page <team>`
-- Added as a moderator on the [GMT forum](https://forum.generic-mapping-tools.org) (to see mod-only discussions) [optional]
-- Added as a maintainer on [ReadtheDocs](https://readthedocs.org/projects/pygmt-dev) [optional]
-- Added as a curator to the [GMT community](https://zenodo.org/communities/generic-mapping-tools/) on Zenodo (for making releases) [optional]
+- Add to the [pygmt-maintainers team](https://github.com/orgs/GenericMappingTools/teams/pygmt-maintainers) (gives 'maintain' permission to the repository)
+- Add to "Active Maintainers" on the {doc}`Team Gallery page <team>`
+- Add as a moderator on the [GMT forum](https://forum.generic-mapping-tools.org) (to see mod-only discussions) [optional]
+- Add as a maintainer on [ReadtheDocs](https://readthedocs.org/projects/pygmt-dev) [optional]
+- Add as a curator to the [GMT community](https://zenodo.org/communities/generic-mapping-tools/) on Zenodo (for making releases) [optional]
 
 ### As an Administrator
 
-- Added to the [pygmt-admin team](https://github.com/orgs/GenericMappingTools/teams/pygmt-admin) (gives 'admin' permission to the repository)
-- Added as an admin on [DAGsHub](https://www.dagshub.com/GenericMappingTools/pygmt/settings/collaboration)
-- Added as a maintainer on [PyPI](https://pypi.org/project/pygmt/) and [Test PyPI](https://test.pypi.org/project/pygmt) [optional]
+- Add to the [pygmt-admin team](https://github.com/orgs/GenericMappingTools/teams/pygmt-admin) (gives 'admin' permission to the repository)
+- Add as an admin on [DAGsHub](https://www.dagshub.com/GenericMappingTools/pygmt)
+- Add as a maintainer on [PyPI](https://pypi.org/project/pygmt/) and [Test PyPI](https://test.pypi.org/project/pygmt) [optional]
+
+**Note**: When a maintainer is no longer active (no activity in one year), we will mirror
+the onboarding access checklist:
+
+- Move from the [pygmt-maintainers team](https://github.com/orgs/GenericMappingTools/teams/pygmt-maintainers)
+  to [pygmt-contributors team](https://github.com/orgs/GenericMappingTools/teams/pygmt-contributors)
+- Move from "Active Maintainers" to "Distinguished Contributors" on the {doc}`Team Gallery page <team>`
+- Remove 'maintain' permission from GMT forum, ReadTheDocs, Zenodo
 
 ## Branches