When Linda passed away, her daughter couldn’t access a single photo or letter stored in her mother’s iCloud account. Even though Linda had done almost everything right—signed a will, created a trust, and accounted for her financial assets—she overlooked her digital life.
In today’s world, our most personal memories, essential financial accounts, and even valuable investments are digital. And yet, digital assets are often missing from estate plans, causing unnecessary frustration, expense, and loss.
When people think of estate planning, they typically focus on physical property: homes, vehicles, savings accounts. But your digital assets are just as important—and sometimes even more valuable.
According to recent studies, only 1 in 4 Americans has included their digital assets in an estate plan. That oversight can leave families locked out of emotional memories, financial resources, and personal data.
Imagine your family needing to:
Without proper planning, these scenarios become legal and emotional hurdles, often requiring court orders, long wait times, or irreversible data loss.
Your passwords could be the key to your family’s peace of mind—or the roadblock that leaves them in the dark.
Rick’s brother had told him he was “dabbling” in crypto. After his brother passed away, Rick found out that those few coins were actually $75,000 worth of Ethereum. Unfortunately, no one had access to the wallet. No password, no backup, no way in. The funds were lost forever.
That day, Rick updated his estate documents and added instructions for his own digital assets. “I’m not letting my family go through that,” he said.
Estate planning professionals agree: your digital life deserves the same attention as your physical assets.
“Digital assets are often forgotten until it’s too late—families end up locked out of crucial information.” — Deborah Jacobs, Estate Planning Expert
“Treat your digital life like your real one: with organization and intention.” — Sharon Hartley, Estate Attorney
Fortunately, tech companies are starting to offer solutions. Services like Apple’s Legacy Contact, Google’s Inactive Account Manager, and password managers such as 1Password offer helpful tools for managing your digital legacy.
Create a list of your:
Include usernames and account locations—but never write down passwords directly in your will.
Services like 1Password or LastPass allow you to:
This person is responsible for managing your digital accounts after you pass away. Some states, including Arizona and New Mexico, now legally recognize digital executors.
Include them in your will or trust documents and clearly outline what they have access to and how they should manage your online assets.
Make sure your legal documents:
Review your plan every few years or after major life changes to ensure it stays current.
Start simple: Email, online banking, cloud photo storage, and social media. Once you begin the list, other accounts will come to mind.
That’s smart. Use a password manager with emergency access settings—your data stays secure and only becomes accessible when needed.
Just like we once moved from paper checks to online banking, estate planning is shifting to include digital assets. And with more of our lives stored in the cloud, planning for your digital legacy is no longer optional—it’s essential.
By thinking ahead, you save your family time, stress, and potential heartache. You also ensure that your life story—photos, emails, memories—is not lost.
A couple from Tucson took 30 minutes to:
When the husband passed away unexpectedly, the wife had everything she needed—no missed accounts, no lost memories, no phone calls to tech support.
That’s what real estate planning peace of mind looks like.
It only takes a few minutes to begin:
Need help? At Walk-in Wills, we make it easy to include digital assets in your estate plan.
📞 Call us today at 480-470-7000 to schedule a free consultation and protect your digital life for the people you love.
