When most people think about estate planning, they picture things like homes, savings, and investments. That’s all important, but there’s another side to your legacy that’s easy to overlook: your digital life.
Your online accounts, financial logins, important documents, even the photos you’ve saved in the cloud — they’re all part of what you leave behind. You don’t have to be an influencer to have something worth protecting. If you’re going to take care of your legacy, that should include your virtual life too.
Why digital estate planning matters
Think about how much of your day runs through a screen. Your bank app. Your retirement accounts. The email address tied to almost every part of your life. Without clear instructions, your family might struggle to access those accounts when it matters most. And in the wrong hands, that same information could be used against them.
By adding your digital assets to your estate plan, you make sure the right people have access at the right time — and no one else does.
What to include
A good digital estate plan should cover:
Bank, investment, and retirement accounts you access online
Email and cloud storage with important files or personal data
Social media accounts like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn
Any online business, website, or intellectual property
Paid subscriptions for streaming, software, or memberships
If you skip this step, your family may never find certain accounts, and some of your most valuable information could be lost forever.
6 ways to protect your digital assets
1. Make an inventory
Write down every important account you have, along with the URL, username, password, and security question answers. Keep it secure in a password manager, encrypted file, or safe deposit box, and give access only to someone you trust.
2. Strengthen your logins
Turn on multi-factor authentication wherever you can, create strong and unique passwords, and keep them organized in a secure password manager.
3. Safeguard your planning documents
Store digital copies of your will, trust, and power of attorney in encrypted storage or on a password-protected device. Keep physical copies somewhere safe and let your executor know exactly where to find them.
4. Name a digital executor
Some states let you appoint someone to manage your online accounts after you’re gone. Pick someone who understands tech and will follow your instructions.
5. Stay ahead of scams
Estates can attract scammers. Warn your loved ones about the risks, and make sure your executor verifies every request before sharing any information.
6. Set instructions for online accounts
Many platforms now let you choose what happens to your account:
Facebookand Instagram let you name a legacy contact or delete the account.
Google has an Inactive Account Manager to control where your data goes.
Applelets you set a Legacy Contact for your iCloud.
LinkedIn and X (Twitter) allow family to request account closure.
The takeaway
Estate planning isn’t only about who gets what. It’s about protecting what you’ve built — and that includes the digital parts of your life.
If you haven’t already:
Start documenting your online accounts
Lock them down with strong passwords and multi-factor authentication
Add them to your will or trust
Choose someone you trust to manage them when the time comes
It’s a small investment of time now that can save your loved ones a lot of stress later. And it’s one more way to make sure your legacy — in every sense of the word — is in good hands.