Technology has made everyday life easier. We take photos without thinking where they’re stored, pay bills without opening a drawer and carry our financial lives around on a device the size of a hand. But when someone dies, all this convenience can suddenly turn into complexity. The digital traces we leave behind rarely sit in one place. They’re spread across accounts, apps, devices and platforms – each with its own rules, logins and processes.
Families describe “digital ghosts”: subscription renewals that keep charging, reminders that pop up at painful moments and accounts they can’t access but can’t seem to shut down. And in amongst that noise, some of the things we value most – photos, voice messages, creative work, sentimental emails – can disappear forever if no one knows how to reach them.
Global research by STEP found that families routinely face distress when they try to retrieve a loved one’s digital accounts after death. Some platforms require a court order. Others shut down accounts automatically after periods of inactivity. Some provide almost no pathway at all.
This is why a digital legacy is now a vital part of estate planning. Once you understand what to manage, the steps become surprisingly straightforward.
Why your digital legacy matters
- Your memories live online. Photos, videos, voice notes and documents often sit inside cloud accounts no one else can unlock.
- Your digital identity outlives you. Unattended accounts can be taken over, impersonated or used for scams.
- Your finances may be invisible. With paper statements now rare, executors can only act on what they can identify.
- Every platform is different. Some let accounts be memorialised. Some allow download of content. Some require legal documents. Some simply freeze everything unless a two-factor code can be entered on a phone that may be locked.
The gap between the way we live and the way our families have to manage things after death is growing.
What to include in your digital legacy plan
Below is a practical checklist to guide your thinking or to take to your adviser or lawyer.
- Your devices
Your phone, laptop and tablet unlock almost everything else.
What to do:
- Make sure someone knows how to access your primary device (passcode or secure storage of the code).
- Consider using a password manager with biometric login.
- Keep a simple note of where devices are stored.
- Passwords and password managers
Guessing someone’s passwords can take weeks. It’s one of the most stressful parts of estate administration.
What to do:
- Use a reputable password manager.
- Let your executor know how to access it if needed.
- Never list passwords in your will – it becomes public.
- Two-factor authentication (2FA)
This is the most common stumbling block. Without the 2FA method (often your phone), accounts can’t be accessed or closed.
What to do:
- Record which phone number, email and authenticator app you use.
- Store backup codes securely.
- Tell your executor where those backup codes live.
- Email accounts
Email is the centre of your digital identity. Password resets, statements, confirmations, receipts – everything leads back here.
What to do:
- List your primary email accounts.
- Keep recovery instructions with your digital legacy notes.
- Financial and crypto assets
Banking and investment platforms are increasingly app-based. Crypto brings a separate risk entirely: if a seed phrase is lost, the asset is unrecoverable.
What to do:
- Record your banking apps, investment platforms and online trading accounts.
- Store crypto seed phrases securely offline with clear instructions.
- Note any digital assets with value – domain names, creator accounts, loyalty points.
- Bills, subscriptions and automatic payments
Automatic renewals can continue for months after death and are often emotionally triggering for families.
What to do:
- List utilities, insurance, memberships, cloud storage and streaming services.
- If you prefer not to manage this manually, some digital estate tools use secure open-banking feeds to automatically track bills and recurring payments, giving executors an accurate snapshot without ongoing admin.
- Social media and online communities
Your online presence might comfort your loved ones or create confusion if not handled clearly.
What to do:
- Decide which accounts you want closed, memorialised or maintained.
- Assign a legacy contact where possible (Facebook allows this).
- Leave instructions for Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, X and any others you use.
- Cloud storage and shared drives
Your documents, photos and creative work often sit across multiple services.
What to do:
- List which cloud platforms you use (iCloud, Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive).
- Store access instructions with your password manager.
- Identify key albums or documents.
- Digital purchases and content
E-books, music, digital art, online courses and gaming items may not be transferrable but they should be mapped.
What to do:
- List platforms such as Apple, Google Play, Audible, Kindle and Steam.
- Note which, if any, carry financial value, such as non fungible tokens (NFTs).
Getting started: small steps that make a big difference
Digital estate planning doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Most people can complete a meaningful first pass in less than an hour.
Start with one of these:
- Choose one device and record the access instructions.
- Activate a password manager and store key accounts.
- Make a short list of the platforms you use most.
- Tell one trusted person where your digital instructions are kept.
Technology has made life richer and more connected. With a little planning, it can also make the legacy you leave behind clearer, kinder and easier for the people you love.
Source: Money & Life
