When most people think about what they’ll leave behind, they think about physical things — the house, the car, the jewelry, the bank accounts. But more and more of our lives now exist online, and that part of the estate is too often overlooked.
Email archives. Photo libraries. Social media accounts. Online banking. Subscription services. Cloud storage. Cryptocurrency. Loyalty point balances. PayPal, Venmo, and other payment apps. Family memories stored on platforms most of us couldn’t name a decade ago.
If something happened to you tomorrow, would your family know what exists, where to find it, or how to access it?
Why Digital Planning Matters
There are a few reasons this part of estate planning has become so important. First, real value often lives in digital accounts — sometimes financial value, but almost always sentimental value. The photos of your children growing up, the emails from a parent who has passed, the writing you’ve done over the years — these matter.
Second, access is harder than people realize. Most online platforms have strict terms of service that don’t simply let your family log in with your password. Without the right preparation, important accounts can be locked, frozen, or eventually closed — with the data inside lost forever.
Third, the absence of a digital plan can leave loved ones vulnerable to identity theft, fraudulent account activity, and ongoing charges from forgotten subscriptions.
Take Inventory
Start by making a list of your digital footprint. You don’t need to capture every single account in one sitting — just begin. Common categories to think through include:
• Email accounts
• Financial accounts and payment apps
• Social media and messaging platforms
• Photo and video storage
• Cloud storage and document services
• Subscription services and streaming accounts
• Cryptocurrency or digital wallets
• Online businesses, blogs, or domain names
• Loyalty and rewards programs with stored value
Store Credentials Securely
A reputable password manager is one of the best tools available for this. It lets you keep your login information organized and protected in one place — and most services offer emergency access features that allow a trusted person to request access under specific conditions. Whatever method you choose, please don’t keep a list of passwords in a notebook in the kitchen drawer. It’s a security risk while you’re alive and often outdated by the time anyone needs it.
Use Built-In Legacy Tools
Many major platforms now offer legacy or inactive account settings. These let you designate someone who can manage or memorialize your account if something happens to you. Taking ten minutes to set these up where they’re available is a meaningful step.
Talk to Your Attorney
Digital assets deserve to be addressed in your estate plan in a thoughtful way. Your attorney can help you create the right framework so the people you’ve chosen have both the legal authority and the practical tools to handle this part of your life with care.
If your existing plan was created before digital assets were a meaningful part of most lives, it may be time for a refresh. We’d be glad to help.