We often talk about leaving behind a financial legacy, a home, or even cherished possessions—but in the 21st century, there’s something just as valuable that needs our attention: our digital legacy. From treasured photos stored in the cloud to online banking, email accounts, cryptocurrency wallets, and social media profiles, your digital presence is an essential part of your estate.

“You may not think much about your digital life, but it will matter a lot to the people you leave behind.” — Evan Carroll, co-author of Your Digital Afterlife

Digital estate planning is more than just a trendy phrase—it’s a crucial part of preparing for the inevitable. Failing to organize and pass on access to your digital assets can cause unnecessary stress, confusion, and even financial loss for your loved ones.

What Is a Digital Estate?

A digital estate includes all of your online accounts and assets: email, social media, online banking, cloud storage, subscriptions, cryptocurrency, and even domain names. According to a 2021 Pew Research study, more than 80% of Americans have online profiles, and over half of adults 50 and older manage financial accounts digitally. Yet few include these in their estate planning.

Digital assets aren’t automatically accessible after death. Many platforms have strict privacy rules, and unless you’ve planned ahead, your family might not be able to retrieve your photos, messages, or even funds. That’s why creating a digital estate plan matters—now more than ever.

Steps to Create Your Digital Estate Plan

Let’s walk through a few essential actions you can take to ensure your digital life is responsibly handled.

1. Make a List of Your Digital Assets

Start with a comprehensive inventory of all your online accounts:

• Email addresses
  
• Social media profiles
  
• Streaming services
  
• Cloud storage (Google Drive, iCloud, Dropbox)
  
• Financial accounts
  
• Health portals
  
• Shopping accounts (Amazon, eBay)

Action Step: Use a free worksheet fromEverplans to organize your list.

2. Choose a Digital Executor

Just like naming an executor for your will, assign someone you trust to manage your digital assets. Many states allow you to name a digital executor in your estate documents. Make sure they’re tech-savvy enough to navigate your accounts and understand your wishes.

3. Use a Password Manager

Programs like1Password orLastPass allow you to store passwords securely and share access with trusted individuals in the event of death or incapacity.

“Planning is bringing the future into the present so that you can do something about it now.” — Alan Lakein

4. Include Digital Instructions in Your Will

Be specific about what should happen to your accounts. Do you want your Facebook profile memorialized? Should your email be deleted? Should your YouTube content be archived?

Platforms like Facebook and Google allow you to set up legacy contacts or inactive account managers. Learn more atFacebook Memorialization andGoogle Inactive Account Manager.

5. Consider Legal Tools

Consult with an estate attorney who understands digital laws in your state. TheRevised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act (RUFADAA) allows fiduciaries to manage digital assets but requires you to authorize them in legal documents.

Tools and Resources

Here are helpful apps and platforms for managing your digital estate:

• Everplans: Organize end-of-life planning, including digital assets.
  
• GoodTrust: Manage and assign your digital legacy across platforms.
  
• Cake: A free end-of-life planning platform that includes digital estate guidance.

Action Step: Create a secure “digital legacy folder” this week with your password manager, digital asset list, and instructions for your executor.

Why This Matters for Future Generations

Digital assets are also emotional assets. That photo archive, blog, or Spotify playlist might be part of your grandchild’s memory of you someday. By preserving your digital life, you’re giving loved ones access not just to accounts, but to stories and moments they’ll treasure.

“Legacy is not leaving something for people. It’s leaving something in people.” — Peter Strople

Digital planning also reduces the stress, cost, and confusion your family may face when navigating your digital footprint. In an era where digital identity is deeply intertwined with our human one, planning for it is an act of love.

Imagine Your Digital Life After You’re Gone

What do you want your final email to say? Should your playlists live on? Would your Instagram feed be a source of joy—or regret? These are surprisingly personal questions, and thinking through them can give you clarity on how you’re living today, not just what you’ll leave behind.

Action Step: Take one hour this weekend to review your online presence. What do you want preserved? What can be deleted? What feels meaningful?

Your digital life is part of your legacy. It tells a story about who you were, what you valued, and how you connected with others. Don’t let that story end in confusion. Prepare it, shape it, and protect it—just like you would any treasured possession.

Have you thought about who will manage your digital legacy—or what digital memories you want to pass on? Join the conversation in theforum and share how you’re preparing your digital estate.