Digital Estate Planning: What to Include and Where to Start

Most people have more online accounts than they realize.

Banking apps. Email. Photos. Cloud storage. Social media. Streaming plans. Passwords. Phones. Laptops. Crypto wallets. Family documents.

If something happened to you, would someone you trust know what exists and how to handle it?

That is where digital estate planning comes in.

Digital estate planning means making a clear plan for your digital assets after death or during incapacity. It helps your loved ones find important accounts, protect private information, save meaningful files, close accounts, and manage anything with money or personal value.

It works best when it is part of your normal estate plan.

This guide explains what to include, where to start, and how to make a simple digital estate checklist without getting overwhelmed.

What Is Digital Estate Planning?

Digital estate planning is the process of organizing your digital life so someone can manage it when you cannot.

It may include:

• Online accounts
• Digital files
• Password instructions
• Devices
• Cloud storage
• Social media
• Digital money
• Photos and videos
• Important contacts
• Account closure wishes

A digital estate plan does not replace a will, trust, or power of attorney.

It supports them.

Think of it as a map.

Your will may say who gets your property. Your digital estate plan helps your trusted person find and manage the online pieces of your life.

What Are Digital Assets?

Digital assets are things you own, use, store, or access electronically.

Some have money value. Some have personal value. Some are simply important for closing accounts or protecting your family.

Common digital assets include:

• Email accounts
• Online banking accounts
• Investment accounts
• Retirement account logins
• Payment apps
• Cryptocurrency wallets
• Cloud storage
• Photos and videos
• Social media accounts
• Websites and domain names
• Online businesses
• Subscription accounts
• Loyalty points
• Airline miles
• Digital documents
• Tax records
• Medical portal accounts
• Password manager accounts
• Devices like phones, tablets, and laptops

In digital assets estate planning, the goal is not always to transfer ownership. Some accounts cannot be transferred because of provider rules. The goal is to give the right person enough information and legal authority to take proper action.

Many states have adopted laws based on the Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act, often called RUFADAA, which gives a framework for fiduciary access to digital assets while also respecting privacy and provider terms. State rules can vary, so legal documents should be reviewed with a qualified estate planning attorney. (Uniform Law Commission)

Why Access Matters

Access matters because your loved ones may not know what you have.

They may not know:

• Which bank you use
• Where photos are stored
• Which bills are on autopay
• How to get into your phone
• Which subscriptions need to stop
• Whether you have crypto or online business income
• Where key family documents are saved

Without a plan, families can lose time, money, and important memories.

They may be locked out of accounts. They may keep paying for services no one uses. They may miss bills, tax forms, insurance notices, or business messages.

A simple online account estate plan can reduce stress at a hard time.

Digital Estate Planning Is About More Than Passwords

Passwords are part of the plan.

But they are not the whole plan.

A good digital plan answers four basic questions:

1. **What exists?** List the accounts, devices, files, and digital property.

2. **Where is it?** Note where accounts, documents, and devices can be found.

3. **Who should handle it?** Name a trusted person in your estate documents when possible.

4. **What should happen?** Say whether accounts should be saved, transferred, closed, deleted, or memorialized.

This makes digital legacy planning much easier for your family.

What to Include in a Digital Estate Checklist

Use this section as your starter digital estate checklist.

You do not need to finish it all in one day. Start with the most important accounts first.

1. Email Accounts

Email is often the key to everything else.

Many password resets, bank notices, bills, and account alerts go through email.

List each email account you use, including:

• Personal email
• Work email
• Old email accounts
• Business email
• Email tied to online stores or banks

Add notes about what each account is used for.

Example:

"Gmail account used for banking, family photos, and phone backup."

2. Financial Accounts

Financial accounts should be easy for your executor or agent to identify.

Include:

• Bank accounts
• Credit cards
• Investment accounts
• Retirement accounts
• Loan accounts
• Mortgage accounts
• Payment apps
• Tax software accounts
• Online insurance portals

You do not need to list account balances in your digital estate plan unless you want to.

The most useful details are usually:

• Name of the company
• Type of account
• Website or app name
• Last four digits of account number, if helpful
• Contact phone number
• Where statements are stored

Do not put passwords directly in your will. A will may become part of the public court record after death in many probate cases.

3. Password Manager

A password manager can make digital estate planning much easier.

Instead of writing down every password in a notebook, you can store passwords in one secure place.

Your plan should explain:

• Which password manager you use
• How emergency access works
• Who should receive access
• Where recovery codes are stored
• What to do if two-factor authentication is needed

Do not share your master password casually.

Use the emergency access tools offered by your password manager when possible.

4. Two-Factor Authentication Details

Two-factor authentication, often called 2FA, adds a second step when logging in.

That second step may go to:

• Your phone
• An authentication app
• Your email
• A hardware security key
• Backup codes

This is great for security.

But it can create problems if your trusted person has no way to access the second step.

Document:

• Which phone receives codes
• Which authentication app you use
• Where backup codes are stored
• Whether you use a physical security key
• Where that key is kept

This does not mean giving everyone access now. It means creating safe instructions for the right person later.

5. Phones, Computers, and Tablets

Devices often hold the keys to your digital life.

List your main devices:

• Smartphone
• Laptop
• Desktop computer
• Tablet
• External hard drives
• Backup drives
• Smart home hubs

For each device, note:

• Where it is kept
• How it is backed up
• Whether it has important files
• Whether it is linked to cloud storage
• Who should receive it or erase it

Your attorney can help you decide how much device access information to include and where to store it safely.

6. Cloud Storage and Digital Files

Many people store their most important records in the cloud.

Include accounts such as:

• Google Drive
• iCloud
• Dropbox
• OneDrive
• Box
• External backup services

List important file folders, such as:

• Tax records
• Insurance papers
• Home records
• Family photos
• Business files
• Legal documents
• Medical files
• School records
• Creative work

Add simple instructions.

Example:

"Family photos in iCloud should be saved and shared with my children."

7. Photos, Videos, and Family Memories

Not every digital asset has money value.

Some are priceless because they matter to your family.

Your digital legacy planning should include:

• Family photos
• Videos
• Voice recordings
• Scanned letters
• Family history files
• Genealogy accounts
• Personal writing
• Creative projects

State what should be saved and who should receive copies.

This small step can prevent meaningful memories from being lost.

8. Social Media Accounts

Social media accounts may need special instructions.

You may want accounts to be:

• Deleted
• Memorialized
• Downloaded
• Left alone
• Given to a business partner
• Managed for a period of time

Include accounts such as:

• Facebook
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• TikTok
• X
• Pinterest
• YouTube
• Reddit
• Personal blogs

Some platforms have their own legacy contact or memorial settings. Use those tools when available because provider tools may control what happens to the account.

9. Online Business Assets

If you earn money online, this part matters a lot.

Include:

• Business websites
• Domain names
• Hosting accounts
• Online stores
• Seller accounts
• Payment processors
• Email marketing platforms
• Ad accounts
• Affiliate accounts
• Course platforms
• Client portals
• Social media business pages

Add instructions for:

• Who should run the business
• Whether it should be sold
• Where income is received
• Where business records are stored
• Which bills must be paid

For business owners, digital estate planning should be part of a larger succession plan.

10. Subscriptions and Bills

Subscriptions can keep charging after someone dies.

List key recurring services:

• Streaming services
• Software subscriptions
• Cloud storage
• News sites
• Gym apps
• Meal plans
• Delivery services
• Membership sites
• Security monitoring
• Website hosting

Note which payment card or bank account is used.

This helps your executor stop waste and close accounts faster.

11. Cryptocurrency and Digital Wallets

Crypto needs special care.

If no one can find the wallet or recovery phrase, the asset may be lost.

For crypto, document:

• Wallet names
• Exchange accounts
• Type of assets held
• Where recovery phrases are stored
• Who should receive access
• Any tax records
• Security instructions

Do not place seed phrases in a will.

Store them securely. Talk with an estate planning attorney who understands digital assets.

12. Important Contacts

Your digital estate plan should include people who can help.

List contacts such as:

• Estate planning attorney
• Financial advisor
• Tax preparer
• Insurance agent
• Business partner
• Website developer
• Password manager emergency contact
• Trusted family member
• Executor or trustee

Add names, phone numbers, and email addresses.

This saves your loved ones from guessing.

What Not to Put Directly in Your Will

A will is not always private.

Because of that, avoid putting sensitive login details directly in your will.

Do not place these in the body of your will:

• Full passwords
• PINs
• Crypto seed phrases
• Security question answers
• Full account numbers
• Private recovery codes

Instead, your will can give legal authority.

A separate private digital asset memo can give practical instructions.

Ask your attorney how to do this correctly in your state.

How Digital Estate Planning Works With Traditional Estate Planning

Your digital plan should connect with your larger estate plan.

That may include:

• Will
• Trust
• Durable power of attorney
• Health care directive
• Executor appointment
• Trustee appointment
• Beneficiary designations

The key is authority.

Your loved one may know where your accounts are. But that does not always mean they have legal permission to access or manage them.

Estate planning documents can name who has authority to handle digital assets. The Uniform Law Commission's RUFADAA framework was created to help clarify fiduciary access to digital assets, but access still depends on state law, account settings, provider rules, and the wording of your documents. (Uniform Law Commission)

That is why digital assets estate planning should not be treated as a loose list of passwords.

It should be part of your legal plan.

Who Should Handle Your Digital Assets?

Some people call this person a "digital executor."

Not every state uses that exact legal term.

But you can still choose a trusted person to help manage digital tasks, either through your executor, trustee, or agent under power of attorney.

Choose someone who is:

• Trustworthy
• Organized
• Comfortable with basic technology
• Calm under stress
• Able to follow instructions
• Good with privacy

This person does not need to be a tech expert.

They just need to be responsible.

For complex assets, such as crypto or an online business, you may need a second helper with special knowledge.

How to Start Your Digital Estate Plan

Start small.

You do not need a perfect plan today.

You need a useful first version.

Step 1: List Your Most Important Accounts

Begin with:

• Email
• Banking
• Insurance
• Retirement
• Phone
• Cloud storage
• Password manager
• Main devices

These are the accounts your family would likely need first.

Step 2: Write Down What Each Account Is For

Keep it simple.

Example:

• "Chase checking: household bills"
• "Gmail: main email for banking and family"
• "iCloud: phone backup and family photos"
• "Dropbox: business records"

This gives your trusted person context.

Step 3: Decide What Should Happen

For each account, write a short wish.

Use plain words:

• Save
• Delete
• Close
• Transfer
• Memorialize
• Share with family
• Give to business partner

Example:

"Download family photos from iCloud and share them with my children."

Step 4: Set Up a Password Manager

A password manager can reduce risk and confusion.

Store your account logins there.

Then set up emergency access if the tool offers it.

Keep backup codes and recovery information in a safe place.

Step 5: Update Legal Documents

Talk with an estate planning attorney about adding digital asset language to your documents.

Ask about:

• Digital asset authority in your will
• Digital asset authority in your trust
• Digital access in your power of attorney
• Online tool settings for major platforms
• Privacy rules
• State law

This is where your digital estate plan becomes stronger.

Step 6: Store the Plan Safely

Your digital estate plan should be easy for the right person to find, but hard for the wrong person to access.

Good storage options may include:

• A secure digital vault
• A password manager note
• A sealed letter in a safe
• Your attorney's file
• A locked home safe
• A trusted document storage service

Tell your executor or trusted person where the plan is.

Do not give sensitive access details to people who do not need them.

Step 7: Review It Twice a Year

Digital life changes often.

Review your plan when you:

• Open a new bank account
• Change phones
• Start a business
• Buy crypto
• Change passwords
• Move files to new cloud storage
• Get married
• Divorce
• Have a child
• Change your executor
• Close major accounts

A simple review every six months can keep the plan useful.

Simple Example of a Digital Estate Plan Entry

Here is what one entry might look like:

This is enough to guide someone without overcomplicating the process.

Digital Estate Planning Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid these common mistakes:

• Keeping everything in your head
• Sharing passwords by text or email
• Putting passwords in your will
• Forgetting two-factor authentication
• Ignoring old email accounts
• Leaving crypto instructions unclear
• Forgetting cloud storage
• Naming someone who is not comfortable with the task
• Never updating the plan
• Assuming your family can "just call customer service"

A little planning now can prevent a lot of stress later.

FAQ

What is digital estate planning?

Digital estate planning is the process of organizing your online accounts, digital files, devices, passwords, and instructions so someone you trust can manage them if you die or become unable to act.

What are digital assets in estate planning?

Digital assets are electronic accounts, files, records, and property. They may include email, photos, social media, cloud storage, online banking, crypto, websites, subscriptions, and digital documents.

Do I need a digital estate plan if I already have a will?

Yes, in most cases. A will says who receives property. A digital estate plan helps your executor find, access, manage, close, or preserve your digital accounts and files.

Should I put my passwords in my will?

Usually, no. A will may become public during probate. Passwords, PINs, crypto seed phrases, and recovery codes should be stored in a safer private place.

Can my executor access my online accounts?

It depends on your state law, your estate documents, the account provider's rules, and any legacy settings you used. Many states have laws based on RUFADAA, but access is not automatic in every situation. (Uniform Law Commission)

What is a digital executor?

A digital executor is a person you choose to help manage digital accounts and assets after death. The exact legal role depends on your state and estate documents.

What is the best place to store a digital estate checklist?

Store it somewhere secure but findable. Good options include a password manager, secure digital vault, locked safe, attorney file, or sealed letter with instructions.

How often should I update my digital estate plan?

Review it at least once or twice a year. Also update it after major life changes, new accounts, new devices, business changes, or password manager changes.

Key Takeaways

• Digital estate planning helps loved ones manage your online accounts and files.
• Digital assets can include money accounts, photos, emails, devices, crypto, and cloud files.
• Access matters because families may not know what exists or how to handle it.
• Do not put passwords or recovery codes directly in your will.
• Your digital plan should work with your will, trust, power of attorney, and executor.
• Start with your most important accounts first.
• Review your plan regularly.

Final Digital Estate Checklist

Use this quick checklist to start.

• List all email accounts
• List bank, credit card, loan, and investment accounts
• List insurance and retirement portals
• List phones, computers, tablets, and backup drives
• List cloud storage accounts
• List photo and video storage locations
• List social media accounts
• List subscriptions and recurring bills
• List online business assets
• List crypto wallets or exchanges, if any
• Set up or update a password manager
• Document two-factor authentication methods
• Name a trusted person to help
• Add digital asset language to estate documents
• Store instructions safely
• Review every six months