When we think about life planning, most of us focus on the things we can see and organize — bank statements, account information, the house, and funeral arrangements. We assume that taking care of  these practical details ahead of time will help make it  easier for the people we love when we’re gone.

But today, much of life exists somewhere else entirely: online.

Photos, messages, financial accounts, subscriptions, and personal files now live behind passwords and two-factor authentication. Together, they form a digital footprint that holds both meaningful memories and important information.

And yet, this part of life planning is often overlooked.

As our digital footprint continues to grow, oftentimes families are left to figure out how to manage social media accounts, close financial platforms, and access digital records after someone passes away. That’s where digital estate planning and digital legacy planning become an essential piece of the modern puzzle.

For some — especially those who didn’t grow up with technology — organizing digital accounts can feel overwhelming. Younger family members may understand the platforms but not always the legal steps required to manage accounts after a death.

Finding a balance between these perspectives often starts with a simple question: what exactly counts as a digital asset?

What Is a Digital Asset? (And Why It Matters)

When people hear the term “digital asset estate planning,” they sometimes picture complicated technology or cryptocurrency. In reality, it’s much simpler.

A digital asset is anything you own, manage, or store online. This includes accounts you log into every day, subscriptions that renew automatically, and photos on your phone, computer, or saved in the cloud. According to Purdue Global Law School, understanding and documenting these assets is a key part of preparing a modern estate plan.

Some digital assets hold financial value, while others carry personal or sentimental value. Both can be important for families to identify and manage.

Here are some of the most common examples.

Financial Accounts

These are often the highest priority accounts. While the funds themselves are part of your legal estate, many of these accounts are paperless. Without a “digital map,” your family may not even know these assets exist, leading to lost funds or lengthy legal processes.

Key accounts include:

  • Online Brokerage Platforms: High-value accounts like E*TRADE®, Charles Schwab®, or Robinhood® that often rely on paperless notifications.
  • Payment & Peer-to-Peer Apps: Balances held in Venmo®, PayPal®, Cash App®, or Zelle®. Find additional information here.
  • The Digital Wallet: Cryptocurrency (e.g. Bitcoin, Ethereum), NFTs, and blockchain-based investments.
  • Points & Rewards: Travel miles, hotel points, and cash-back rewards that often have transferable value.
  • Traditional Banking: Online-only banks and high-yield savings accounts that don’t send physical mail.

Documenting these accounts — and noting where to find login credentials — prevents your financial legacy from being swallowed by a forgotten password.

Social Media Accounts

Social platforms often hold years of memories, from life’s biggest milestones to the small, daily conversations that define our relationships.

Common platforms to consider include:

  • Lifestyle & Connection: Facebook® and Instagram®.
  • Professional Identity: LinkedIn®.
  • Real-time News & Thought: X® (formerly Twitter®).
  • Content & Video: YouTube® and TikTok®.

After a person passes, social media accounts can be memorialized, deleted, or managed by a designated legacy contact. Each platform has its own rules, so outlining your wishes in advance makes it easier for family or friends to handle accounts without added stress. This guide breaks down what happens to social media accounts when someone dies and how families can manage them.

Subscriptions and Digital Services

Most of us have services that automatically renew every month. While these individual charges might seem small, they can quickly add up.

Common accounts that require a monthly or yearly subscription include:

  • Entertainment: Streaming services like Netflix® (this guide explains how to manage Netflix after someone passes), Spotify®, or YouTube®.
  • Cloud Services: Apple® (iCloud) or Google® (One) storage plans that keep all your devices synced.
  • Media Libraries: Kindle books, Audible credits, and online movie collections.
  • Gaming & Hobbies: Online gaming accounts, like Steam® or PlayStation® Plus, and specialized software subscriptions, such as Adobe® or Microsoft 365®.
  • Shopping: Amazon® Prime (this guide explains how to manage Amazon® accounts after someone passes), Walmart+®, and “Subscribe & Save” deliveries.
  • Utility & Smart Home: Security systems and smart home hubs.

Identifying these subscriptions prevents what some call a “digital leak,” and helps ensure families aren’t stuck tracking payments after the death of a loved one.

Personal Storage and Communication

These often hold the most treasured memories and may include things like:

  • Communication: Gmail, Outlook, and other email providers.
  • Cloud Storage: Google Drive, Dropbox, and iCloud.
  • Media Libraries: Photos, music collections, and eBook libraries.

Recognizing how much of a person’s life is online makes it easier to organize these accounts.

Creating Your Digital Roadmap

Knowing where your digital assets live is only the first step. Next comes deciding how they should be handled. This doesn’t have to be a technical headache; in fact, the most effective plans are often the simplest. This guide is one example of a way to think through all the practical steps.

Think of this as creating a roadmap. If someone had to step in to manage your life, would they know where to start?

Follow these three steps to turn confusion into clarity:

1. Create a High-Level Inventory

Focus on the “Command Centers” — accounts that, if lost, would cause the most stress. U.S. Bank’s digital estate planning guide offers helpful tips for organizing these accounts and ensuring nothing is overlooked.

  • Financial Hubs: Online banking, investment platforms, payment apps.
  • Primary Emails: Used for password resets.
  • Digital Memory Boxes: iCloud, Google Photos, Dropbox®.
  • Social & Professional: Facebook®, Instagram®, LinkedIn®.
  • Auto-Pay Subscriptions: Services hitting your credit card monthly.

2. Bridge the Access Gap Securely

Access is just as important as knowing an account exists. In an era of two-factor authentication, a sticky note won’t suffice. Consider:

  • Password managers: Tools like 1Password or Dashlane can designate an emergency contact.
  • Encrypted digital vaults: Secure lockboxes offered by modern estate planning tools.
  • Legacy folder: A sealed physical document with passwords stored alongside your will.

These methods make it easier for your family to manage access to internet accounts after a death.

3. Designate a Digital Point-Person

It is important to choose someone to manage your digital presence, just as you would designate someone to handle your estate or personal affairs. You might choose the same person for everything, or you may decide to divide responsibilities among family members or friends based on their strengths.

Pro Tip: Use Built-In Legacy Features

  • Apple®: Set a Legacy Contact to access photos and backups. Learn more here.
  • Google®: Use the Inactive Account Manager to share data with a trusted contact. Learn more here.
  • Facebook®: Assign a Legacy Contact to manage memorialized profiles. Learn more here.

Managing a Loved One’s Digital Estate

Even with a plan, families sometimes must manage a digital estate without a roadmap. In that case, the focus shifts to securing accounts and preventing leaks — such as recurring charges or unauthorized activity  —  that could drain the estate.

Navigating Financial and Payment Accounts

Financial institutions have the strictest security protocols, but most now have dedicated “Bereavement Support” teams to assist.

  • Payment Apps (PayPal®, Venmo®, Cash App®): You generally cannot log in and transfer funds. Instead, you must contact their support teams. Be prepared to provide a Digital Death Certificate (a high-quality scan) and Letters of Testamentary (the court document proving you are the executor). They will typically close the account and issue a check to the estate for any remaining balance. PayPal provides detailed guidance here.
  • The 2FA Catch-22: If an account requires two-factor authentication (2FA), do not cancel the deceased person’s phone plan immediately. Verification codes may be sent to a phone, email, or authenticator app, and you may need access to these while closing financial accounts.

The Legal Framework: Why Authority Matters

Many states have laws, such as the Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act (RUFADAA), that allow executors to manage digital accounts much like other estate assets — provided the person didn’t set limits in advance.

Even with these laws, companies are bound by privacy policies. That’s why even a simple mention of “digital assets” in a will is so important: it gives the executor legal standing to request access or close accounts that might otherwise remain inaccessible.

Peace of Mind in the Digital Age

Managing your digital estate and legacy plan shouldn’t feel like a project that you have to complete in a single afternoon. It’s a work in progress. Just remember, this can be an ongoing conversation, ensuring your life’s story stays in the hands of the people you love, not lost in cyberspace.

Even naming a legacy contact or starting a simple inventory today gives your family a final gift: clarity, preserved memories, and peace of mind.

Your digital life reflects your story — take a few minutes now to make sure that story continues on your terms.