When it comes to estate planning, most people think about wills, trusts, and maybe beneficiary designations. But in today’s world, your digital life is just as important. From banking apps and social media to cloud-stored memories and cryptocurrency, you likely have dozens of digital assets—some with real monetary or emotional value—that your family may need access to after you’re gone.
Here’s how to make sure they’re not left scrambling.
1. Make a Comprehensive List of Digital Assets
Think about everything you access online:
- Bank accounts
- Investment accounts
- Mortgages and utility bills
- Email addresses
- Social media platforms
- Travel rewards
- Digital payment apps (like Venmo or PayPal)
- Password managers
- Cloud storage
- Subscriptions
- Digital wallets or crypto
Now imagine your family trying to locate and log into all of it without help. Not easy.
Create a current list of your digital assets, including user IDs, passwords (or where they’re stored), and any legacy access settings you’ve configured. Store this list in a secure, known location. A friend of mine found her late husband’s password list only after we accidentally discovered it taped under a desk!
2. Back Up What’s in the Cloud
Your phone or cloud storage probably holds:
- Photos and videos
- Notes and lists
- Personal documents
- Saved playlists or journal entries
- Digital wallets and payment info
Both Apple and Google allow you to set up legacy contacts to access these accounts after your death. On Apple, go to Settings → Your Name → Sign-in & Security → Legacy Contact. On Google, search for Inactive Account Manager to designate who should be notified and gain access.
Make it easier for loved ones to retrieve your memories, not harder.
3. Set Up Social Media Preferences
Over 70% of Americans aged 65–74 are on Facebook—but few have decided what should happen to their profiles after death.
- Facebook allows you to memorialize or delete your profile and choose someone to manage it.
- Instagram does not let you set preferences in advance, but your family can request deletion or memorialization with proper documentation.
- Microsoft, X (formerly Twitter), and Pinterest each have their own processes, but most require documentation like a death certificate.
Take time now to set your preferences and inform your loved ones.
4. Don’t Lose Your Cryptocurrency
Crypto is a unique challenge in estate planning. An estimated 20% of all Bitcoin is permanently lost—often because heirs didn’t have the keys or instructions to access digital wallets.
Here’s how to protect your crypto assets:
- Include them in your will or trust
- Document the wallets and platforms you use
- Write down seed phrases, recovery keys, or the steps needed to access your holdings
- Use custodial platforms with clear beneficiary procedures
Keep this information somewhere secure and share how to find it.
Digital Estate Planning Isn’t Optional Anymore
Your digital footprint grows every day. Without a plan, your loved ones may face roadblocks, lost assets, or the emotional toll of being unable to retrieve memories.
Take the time now to organize your digital legacy—it’s one of the most thoughtful gifts you can leave behind.
