Does my Iphone 5 have to be active?

Does my Iphone 5 have to be on active service with it's carrier in order to unlock it?

Basically, my ex's friend, my neighbor sold her, her old iphone 5. It was on AT&T until today when we told her to cancel the service because we didn't like the service. The neighbor was not happy about canceling it because she's a control freak. So now she won't even call at&t to request it to be unlocked. So I have to go other routes to try to unlock it.

Just need to know if it has to have Live service or not since I'm aware the unlock is performed through Itunes.

Earthlock: Festival of Magic
Hyper Light Drifter
Kingdom Come: Deliverance
Lords of the Fallen
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
Pier Solar HD
Shining Empire
Tom Clancy's The Division
Warhammer 40,000: Eternal Crusade

Not all of them are out yet but soon to come out.

Get the phone factory unlocked and your problem is solved. The phone needs to be connected to iTunes whne you unlock it. If you need to get the phone factory unlocked, mail me for references.