The Digital Estate Checklist: Steps to Secure your Accounts
When someone dies or becomes incapacitated, their digital life continues. Emails, bank accounts, photos, social media, and cloud storage remain online. Without clear access, families are often locked out.
Tech companies will not release information without legal authority. A surviving spouse or child cannot simply request access. Even if they know the password, using it can violate terms of service or privacy laws. The result is frustration, delay, and sometimes permanent loss of data or funds (especially when it comes to cryptocurrency wallets or cold storage!).
Digital accounts now hold more than memories. They contain business records, tax documents, and banking information. When no one can log in, automatic payments continue, credit cards renew, and accounts remain open with no oversight. In probate and trust administration, this can create confusion and unnecessary costs.
Here is what to do now:
Set up Legacy Contacts on Apple or Android. This allows someone you trust to access your device and data after death. Scroll down for step-by-step instructions on how to set these up.
Use a secure password manager such as 1Password or LastPass. Store account credentials in one place and share emergency access with a designated person. We aren’t recommending one service over the other, evaluate what works best for you.
Review your estate plan to include digital assets. Your will or trust should authorize your executor or trustee to access and manage online accounts.
Keep an updated inventory of key accounts. This includes email, financial institutions, utilities, and cloud storage.
Digital access is not optional. It is part of modern estate planning. Taking these steps now prevents chaos later and protects the people who will have to manage your affairs.
Setting Up Legacy Contacts on Apple Devices
If you use an iPhone or other Apple Products, your Apple ID will control all of your devices. Creating a legacy contact will allow your people easier access to unlock your devices in the event of your death and is surprisingly easy to set up!
Open Settings, then tap your name at the top.
Go to Sign-In & Security.
Scroll down to Legacy Contact.
Tap Add Legacy Contact and choose a trusted someone from your contacts. You can add multiple people.
After you add your person, click on their name then View Access Key . Print a copy of the QR code and give to your person. They will take your device, access key, and death certificate to Apple in order to access your account.
Setting Up Legacy Contacts on Android Devices
Android/Google has a similar Legacy Contact, but are managed through Google’s “Inactive Account Manager.” You establish the period of time of inactivity before your trusted contact is notified.
Sign into your Google Account
Click on Google Account Settings
Click Data & Privacy
Under More Options, select “Make a plan for your digital legacy”
Choose your inactivity period
Select your contacts who will be notified and what they will have access to in your Google Account.
