You've written a will. You've named beneficiaries for your bank accounts. You've thought about who will get your jewelry, your house, your photo albums.
But what about your digital life?
What happens to your Facebook account with all those memories and photos? Your email with years of correspondence? Your online banking? Your digital photos stored in the cloud?
Most seniors haven't considered these questions. Yet digital assets are increasingly important—and without planning, they can become a nightmare for your loved ones to handle.
What Are Digital Assets?
Digital assets include anything you own or access online:
Financial Accounts
- Online banking
- Investment accounts
- PayPal and other payment services
- Cryptocurrency wallets
- Online bill payment services
Communication Accounts
- Email accounts (Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook)
- Social media (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn)
- Messaging apps (WhatsApp, Messenger)
Media and Memories
- Digital photos stored online
- Videos uploaded to YouTube or cloud storage
- Music and movie collections
- E-books and digital magazines n
Shopping and Subscriptions
- Amazon and other shopping accounts
- Streaming services (Netflix, Hulu)
- Subscription boxes
- Digital newspaper subscriptions
Personal Websites and Blogs
- Personal websites
- Blogs you've written
- Domain names you own
Loyalty Programs
- Airline miles
- Hotel points
- Credit card rewards
- Store loyalty programs
Think about it: You might have dozens of online accounts your family doesn't even know exist.
Why Traditional Estate Planning Doesn't Cover Digital Assets
Your will probably doesn't mention your Facebook account. Your power of attorney likely doesn't reference your email. This creates problems because:
Terms of Service Agreements
When you signed up for online services, you agreed to terms of service. These often say:
- You can't transfer your account to someone else
- The company can terminate the account when you die
- Your family doesn't automatically get access
Think of it like this: You don't actually "own" your Facebook account—you have a license to use it. When you die, that license ends.
Privacy Laws
Even if you're deceased, privacy laws may prevent companies from giving family members access to your accounts. Your emails remain private even after death.
Password Protection
Without your passwords, your family may not be able to access anything. Even if they know accounts exist, they can't get in.
What Happens Without a Plan
Real scenarios that happen every day:
Scenario 1: The Locked Email
A widow tried to access her deceased husband's email to find their investment account information. Google refused to give her access without a court order—a process that took months and cost thousands in legal fees.
Scenario 2: The Lost Photos
A man passed away suddenly. His family didn't know his Apple ID password. Years of family photos stored in iCloud were lost forever because they couldn't access the account.
Scenario 3: The Persistent Account
A deceased woman's Facebook profile remained active for years. Friends continued to post birthday wishes, not knowing she had passed away. Her family found these messages heartbreaking.
Scenario 4: The Ongoing Bills
After a man's death, his family discovered automatic bill payments continued for months from his checking account—payments for services he no longer needed.
Creating Your Digital Estate Plan
Step 1: Make a Digital Inventory
Create a comprehensive list of your digital assets.
Include for each account:
- The service name (Gmail, Facebook, Chase Bank)
- Your username
- The associated email address
- Approximate value (if any)
- What you want done with it
Example:
ACCOUNT: Gmail
Username: john.smith@gmail.com
Password: [stored in password manager]
What to do: Give access to my daughter Mary
Value: Contains important family correspondence
ACCOUNT: Facebook
Username: john.smith.1945
Password: [stored in password manager]
What to do: Memorialized (keep up but marked as deceased)
Value: Family photos and memories
ACCOUNT: Online Banking - Chase
Username: jsmith1945
Password: [stored in password manager]
What to do: Close account, transfer funds to estate
Value: $45,000 checking, $120,000 savings
Step 2: Decide What You Want for Each Account
Options for social media:
- Memorialization: Keep the account but mark it as belonging to someone deceased
- Deletion: Permanently remove the account
- Legacy contact: Designate someone to manage the memorialized account
Options for financial accounts:
- Transfer to beneficiary: If the service allows
- Close and distribute: Liquidate and include in estate
- Continue with authorized user: Add a family member while you're alive
Options for email:
- Give access to executor: Allow them to manage affairs
- Download and archive: Save important emails, then delete
- Delete entirely: Permanently remove the account
Step 3: Store Your Inventory Securely
Your inventory contains sensitive information. Protect it.
Options:
- Password manager with emergency access: Some password managers let you designate an emergency contact who can access your vault after a waiting period
- Safe deposit box: Store a printed copy
- Physical safe at home: Keep it locked and fireproof
- With your attorney: Include with your will and other estate documents
Important: Don't include passwords directly in your will—wills become public record after probate.
Step 4: Name a Digital Executor
Consider appointing someone specifically to handle your digital assets. This could be:
- Your main executor
- A tech-savvy family member
- A trusted friend
- A professional service
Give them authority in your will or a separate document.
Step 5: Use Platform-Specific Tools
Many services now offer tools for planning what happens to your account:
Facebook:
- Legacy Contact: Designate someone to manage your memorialized account
- Memorialization Settings: Choose what happens to your account
- To set up: Settings → Memorialization Settings
Google (Gmail, YouTube, Photos):
- Inactive Account Manager: Determines what happens after a period of inactivity
- To set up: Google Account → Data & Privacy → Inactive Account Manager
Apple (iCloud, Photos, Email):
- Digital Legacy: Designate up to five people who can access your account
- To set up: Settings → Sign-In & Security → Legacy Contact
Microsoft (Outlook, OneDrive):
- No specific tool, but you can provide access information to your executor
Instagram:
- Memorialization options available
- Request account removal or memorialization through their help center
Special Considerations for Different Account Types
Email Accounts
Why they matter:
- Password resets for other accounts go to email
- Financial statements often arrive by email
- Important communications are stored there
Planning tips:
- Download important emails periodically
- Consider giving your executor access
- Keep a separate list of which accounts are linked to each email
Social Media Accounts
Consider:
- Photos and memories others have shared with you
- Private messages that might be important
- Your digital legacy—what you want left behind
Planning tips:
- Download your social media data periodically (most platforms allow this)
- Decide: memorialization or deletion?
- If memorialization, who will manage it?
Financial Accounts
Critical planning:
- Name beneficiaries where possible (this bypasses probate)
- Make sure your executor knows all accounts exist
- Provide access to tax documents and statements
Warning: Some online-only banks may be harder for executors to deal with than traditional banks.
Digital Photos and Videos
Often the most treasured digital assets.
Planning tips:
- Back up photos to multiple locations
- Share albums with family members now
- Print important photos—physical copies survive technology changes
- Make sure someone knows how to access your cloud storage
Subscription Services
Ongoing charges can drain an estate.
Planning tips:
- Keep a list of all subscriptions
- Include cancellation instructions
- Consider canceling unnecessary subscriptions as you age
Legal Documents You May Need
Will or Trust Provisions
Include language specifically authorizing your executor to:
- Access your digital devices and accounts
- Handle your digital assets according to your wishes
- Hire technical assistance if needed
Digital Assets Authorization
Some states have adopted the Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act (RUFADAA). This law helps executors access digital assets, but you still need to:
- Specifically authorize it in your will or power of attorney
- Provide a way to access passwords and accounts
Power of Attorney
If you become incapacitated (but haven't passed away), someone needs authority to manage your digital life:
- Pay online bills
- Manage investments
- Communicate with service providers
Make sure your power of attorney specifically mentions digital assets.
Red Flags: Problems to Avoid
🚩 RED FLAGS – Don't Make These Mistakes:
- Putting passwords in your will. Wills become public record.
- Telling only one person. They might not be available when needed.
- Never updating your inventory. Accounts change over time.
- Assuming family knows your accounts exist. They probably don't.
- Ignoring this until it's too late. Plan while you're healthy.
- Using the same password everywhere. This creates security risks.
Key Takeaways
📦 Key Takeaway Box:
✅ Create an inventory of all your digital accounts. Include what they are and what you want done with them.
✅ Use platform-specific legacy tools like Facebook Legacy Contact, Google Inactive Account Manager, and Apple Digital Legacy.
✅ Store your inventory and access information securely. Consider password managers with emergency access or physical secure storage.
✅ Name a digital executor and give them legal authority to manage your digital assets.
✅ Don't put passwords in your will. Wills become public record after probate.
✅ Back up important digital assets like photos and documents to multiple locations.
✅ Review and update your digital estate plan annually. Accounts and passwords change.
Your Digital Legacy Matters
You spent a lifetime creating memories, building relationships, and accumulating assets. Much of that now exists in digital form. Without planning, those memories could be lost and those assets could become inaccessible.
Take the time to create a digital estate plan. Your family will be grateful. Your memories will be preserved. Your affairs will be in order.
The best gift you can leave your loved ones is clarity—knowing what you have, where it is, and what you want done with it.
Plan now. Give your family peace of mind later.
End of Elderly Safety Series
Thank you for reading through all 10 articles in this series. We hope they've helped you navigate the digital world more safely and confidently. Remember: technology is a tool. Used wisely, it can enrich your life and keep you connected to the people you love.
Stay safe, stay connected, and never stop learning.