Your Digital Estate Plan: Protecting Passwords, Crypto & Cloud Memories

1. Make a Digital Asset Inventory.

The first and most important step is to document everything you’ve got in your digital life. Grab a notebook or a spreadsheet and start listing your online accounts, digital devices, and important files. Include what the asset is, where to find it, and who should get it. For each account, note the platform (e.g., “Facebook”, “Wells Fargo online banking”), the username/login ID, and password (more on password security in a moment). Don’t forget things like security question answers, PINs, or backup codes for two-factor authentication (2FA) if applicable. 

This inventory should also specify what you want done with each asset: Should the account be memorialized, deleted, or transferred to someone else? For instance, you might write “Facebook – username: jdoe123 – Password: (stored in manager) – Please memorialize my profile and give access to my wife” or “Delete my account after informing my contacts.” It sounds tedious, but keeping a thorough inventory is absolutely critical.

2. Secure Your Passwords and Keys in a Safe Place.

Writing down passwords in a notebook (or on a napkin in your locker) isn’t exactly ironclad security, nor is it helpful if your loved ones can’t decipher your chicken scratch. A better solution is to use a password manager or encrypted digital vault to store all your access info in one secure place. Password manager apps (such as LastPass, 1Password, or Bitwarden) act like an electronic keyring that holds all your passwords behind one master key. They’re designed to keep passwords safe but also can be lifesavers in estate planning: you only need to share that one master password (or an emergency access feature) with your designated person to give them the “keys” when needed. 

If you prefer not to use a password manager, at least consider storing a sealed list of your accounts and passwords in a home safe or safety deposit box – somewhere fireproof and secure, but findable by your executor.

For cryptocurrency wallets, the concept is similar: make sure your private keys and recovery seed phrases are recorded and stored securely. If you use a hardware wallet like Ledger or Trezor (popular cold-storage devices for crypto), treat it like a physical safe – your family will need the device and its PIN/passphrase or seed words to access your coins.[6] Keep those seed phrases in a secure location (some folks engrave them on metal plates for safekeeping) and instruct your executor on how to find and use them.[6] Remember, if no one can find or unlock your crypto wallet, that money is as good as gone, so don’t keep your wallet recovery info solely in your head.

3. Designate a “Digital Executor.”

You may already have an executor named in your will to handle your estate. It could be the same person, but it’s wise to explicitly designate someone to be in charge of your digital assets – a digital executor. This should be someone you trust deeply and, importantly, someone with a bit of tech savvy who can navigate your accounts. 

You can name this person in your will or in a separate letter of instruction for your family. Let them know (in life) that you’ve chosen them for this role, and make sure they at least know how to access your inventory and password manager when the time comes. And don’t forget to empower this person legally – more on that in the next step.

4. Leave Written Instructions for Accessing Devices and 2FA.

Even the best password list won’t help if no one can get past your locked phone or laptop to use it. In your documents, include instructions for accessing your devices: the passcode for your phone and tablet, the PIN for your laptop or desktop, combinations for any external hard drives, etc. If you use encryption on a hard drive, include the decryption key or hint. Also, think about two-factor authentication (2FA): many accounts might text a code to your phone or require an authenticator app. 

Your executor will need a way to get those codes. You can mitigate this by leaving a list of backup 2FA codes (many services allow you to generate backup codes – store them with your passwords) or by using a password manager that can also store 2FA tokens. For example, if you secure your password vault with an app like Authy or Google Authenticator, provide a method for your executor to access that (perhaps by having a secondary device or SIM card accessible). If you have a safe or a locked file cabinet where you keep important documents, include those keys or combos as well. 

5. Update Your Legal Documents to Cover Digital Assets.

Finally, integrate your digital plan into your estate planning documents. Your will (or living trust) should explicitly grant authority to your executor or designated agent to handle your digital assets.[4] Many U.S. states have adopted laws (like the Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act) that allow you to name someone who can legally access your online accounts in the event of death or incapacity – but you need to name them and give that permission in writing. Work with an estate attorney to add the appropriate language to your will, trust, and power of attorney documents so that your wishes are clear and your chosen person has the legal standing to act. For example, you might include a clause in your will saying, “I give my executor the power to access, handle, distribute, and dispose of all my digital assets, in accordance with my written instructions.” 

Similarly, your durable power of attorney (for if you become incapacitated) can have a provision granting your agent access to your digital accounts during your lifetime if you cannot do it yourself. This is critical – without it, companies might refuse to communicate with your family due to privacy laws (as in the Apple case above). Also, be mindful of each platform’s rules: some platforms let you set “legacy contacts” or account trustees (Facebook, Google, and Apple IDs all have some version of this), which can supersede what’s in a will. 

Set up those legacy contacts where available (for instance, you can designate a Facebook Legacy Contact to manage your profile if you pass, or use Google’s Inactive Account Manager to share data with a trusted person after a period of inactivity). These tools are handy, but don’t rely on them alone – use them alongside your overall estate plan. The key is to cover all bases: legal permission, practical access, and documented wishes.

Commonly Overlooked Digital Assets: A Checklist

Even with the best intentions, it’s easy to forget certain accounts or files when making your list. Here’s a quick checklist of top digital assets people (including firefighters) often forget to account for in their estate plans: