Explain why digital estate planning matters. The average person has dozens to hundreds of online accounts. Without a plan, family members may not know these accounts exist, may not be able to access them, and may lose irreplaceable digital assets (photos, documents, cryptocurrency). Some accounts have monetary value (subscriptions, domain names, digital purchases). Others have sentimental value (photos, messages). A digital estate plan ensures nothing is lost.
Walk through the digital asset categories. Guide the user through a systematic inventory of their digital life:
Category 1: Email Accounts
Primary email (often the recovery address for all other accounts)
Secondary and legacy email accounts
Work email (note: employer-owned, may not transfer)
Note: Email is often the "master key" -- access to email enables password resets for most other accounts
Category 2: Financial and Banking Accounts
Online banking portals
Investment platform accounts
Payment services (digital wallets, peer-to-peer payment accounts)
Cryptocurrency wallets and exchange accounts
Tax preparation accounts
Note: These may have separate beneficiary designations (see beneficiary-review-guide)
Category 3: Social Media Accounts
Major social platforms
Professional networking profiles
Messaging applications
Note: Most platforms have legacy contact or memorialization policies
Category 4: Cloud Storage and Digital Files
Cloud storage services
Photo storage services
Document storage
Backup services
Note: Irreplaceable photos and documents may exist only in these accounts
Category 5: Subscriptions and Recurring Services
Streaming services (music, video, audiobook)
Software subscriptions
News and publication subscriptions
Online memberships
Domain name registrations
Website hosting accounts
Note: Subscriptions continue billing until cancelled
Category 6: Digital Purchases and Licenses
Digital music libraries
E-book libraries
App purchases
Video game libraries and in-game assets
Software licenses
Note: Many digital purchases are non-transferable licenses, not owned assets -- terms of service vary
Category 7: Cryptocurrency and Digital Financial Assets
Cryptocurrency exchange accounts
Hardware wallet locations and access information
Software wallet applications
DeFi protocol positions
NFTs and digital collectibles
Note: Cryptocurrency without access credentials is permanently inaccessible -- there is no "skipped password" recovery for private keys
Category 8: Business and Professional Accounts
Business social media accounts the user manages
Domain registrations and hosting for business websites
Professional licensing portals
Client management or CRM accounts
Freelancing platform profiles
Address access credential management. Help the user plan how credentials will be accessible:
Approach options (discuss with attorney which is appropriate):
Password manager with emergency access: Many password managers offer an emergency access or legacy contact feature. A designated person can request access after a waiting period.
Encrypted document: A master credential document stored in a secure location (encrypted USB drive, sealed envelope with attorney, safe deposit box). The location is referenced in the estate plan.
Legacy contact features: Some platforms (email providers, social media) allow designating a legacy contact through their settings directly.
Written instructions in sealed envelope: Stored with estate documents. Simple but requires manual updates when credentials change.
Security considerations:
Never include raw passwords in a will (wills become public record during probate)
Access instructions should be stored separately from the will
Consider a tiered approach: immediate access to critical accounts (financial, email), delayed access to personal accounts
Discuss credential storage approach with the estate attorney
Document platform-specific legacy policies. Note that major platforms have their own policies:
Some allow legacy contacts to manage the account after death
Some offer account memorialization (converting to a memorial)
Some allow account deletion upon verified death
Some require a court order for any access
Policies change over time -- review periodically
Create the cryptocurrency-specific plan (if applicable). Cryptocurrency requires special attention because:
Without the private key or seed phrase, cryptocurrency is permanently inaccessible
Exchange accounts may have their own beneficiary or inheritance processes
Hardware wallets require physical device AND PIN/passphrase
The location of wallets, seed phrases, and PINs must be documented securely
Discuss with attorney whether cryptocurrency should be held in a trust
Compile the digital estate inventory.