How to Organize Your Digital Legacy
Your online accounts are part of your estate. Here's how to document them so loved ones can access what they need.
Most estate plans focus on physical assets and legal documents — but your digital life matters too. Emails, photos, financial accounts, and subscriptions all live behind passwords.
Start with an inventory
List the accounts that matter: email, banking, investments, insurance, social media, cloud storage, and any paid subscriptions.
Store credentials securely
Never leave passwords in a plain document. A private, encrypted vault lets you record each service, username, and password where only you — and a designated contact — can reach them.
Choose a digital executor
Name someone to handle your accounts and make sure they know where to find your inventory and credentials.
Use emergency access thoughtfully
Some tools let you flag specific credentials for release to a trusted contact only after a period of inactivity. That keeps access secure in ordinary times and available when it's truly needed.
Organizing your digital legacy takes an afternoon — and it's one of the most caring things you can do for the people you leave behind.