What is a digital estate plan and why should you have one?
From taking stock of your digital assets to creating a digital estate plan, ensure your social media, bank accounts, and more don’t cause a headache for your family after you’re gone.
20 years ago, a digital estate plan would probably have been your email login details scribbled on paper.
However, with the rise of social media and vast quantities of online content created daily, a person’s digital legacy can be an eclectic mix of data and content.
What is a digital estate plan?
A digital estate plan is a document or set of instructions that outlines how a person's digital assets and online accounts should be managed or disposed of after their death or incapacity.
Digital assets may include emails, social media accounts, online banking and investment accounts, photos and videos, and other forms of digital property.
A digital estate plan typically includes details on how to access these accounts and assets, who should be granted access, what should be done with data and how to manage outstanding debts or liabilities related to these accounts.
Do I need a digital estate plan?
Unless you’ve been living off-grid, even the lightest users of digital media will need to consider their digital assets in a will.
If you have any of the items in our digital asset checklist below, then you definitely need to plan your digital estate.
Why is digital estate planning important?
It is essential to have a digital estate plan to ensure your digital assets are properly handled and protected and that your wishes are respected after death or incapacity.
Creating a digital estate plan is also becoming increasingly important as more and more of our lives are lived online.
Without a digital estate plan, it can be difficult or impossible for family members or loved ones to access and manage a person's digital assets after their death or incapacity.
You should undertake digital asset planning as a standalone project or as part of broader considerations to assist your family in dealing with your finances after you’re gone.
Digital estate planning checklist
Digital assets are dynamic and evolve with software and technology, so you should always keep your digital estate under review.
To assist in your assessment, we have put together the following digital estate planning checklist:
1. Online purchases of digital products
This is the online equivalent of your DVD and CD collection. These assets may include music or film purchases on platforms such as iTunes or Prime Video.
They can also include non-fungible tokens (NFTs), which are unique digital items that are often artwork stored in a blockchain.
NFTs can also generate income through royalties, so specifying their ownership in a digital asset plan is crucial.
2. Digital finance assets
When considering digital assets in a will, digital banking and financial assets should be a priority.
Banks such as Monzo are online only, so sharing access in your digital estate plan is necessary.
The same goes for credit cards, insurance policies and savings and investment accounts.
Don’t forget to include any cryptocurrency access information and logins.
3. Personal digital content and memories
Many of our photo albums are now online, and years of memories could be lost if we delete our social media accounts.
Facebook and Instagram allow you to nominate someone to handle your legacy account should the worst happen.
However, others like LinkedIn, bank accounts and email providers will require login details.
Essentially, ensuring that access to digital platforms is passed on through good digital asset planning will help things run smoothly.
4. Digital devices
Physical digital devices such as your smartphone, tablet, laptop and smartwatch will hold digital assets within them and provide access to cloud accounts.
As with other digital assets, ensuring that login details and passwords are securely handed over is the key to avoiding later complications.
How to create a digital estate plan
By now, you’re probably thinking: ‘How do I start my digital asset planning?’
1. Take an inventory of your digital assets and anything you think might need to be dealt with after you’re gone. This can include email accounts, online banking accounts, social media, cloud storage and loyalty card accounts. If you own a website or blog, consider domain and platform logins.
2. Store all login details securely as they are the key to your digital life and security. A password storage tool will enable you to store all access data under a single login. Apple Keychain can do this; however, remember to pass on your iCloud login details. Other password storage tools include Dashlane and LastPass.
3. Choose a digital executor and specify who this is in your will. It may be the same as the person who has power of attorney for the rest of your estate, however, bear in mind that this person will need to have some awareness of digital and social media to execute your wishes.
4. Discuss your digital asset plan with a legal representative or financial adviser.
What are the consequences of not having a digital estate plan
As a consequence of not having a plan in place, there is the potential for confusion among friends and family, disputes over ownership, and even legal issues regarding who has the right to access assets.
Unbiased can quicky connect you to a financial adviser who can help you with estate planning.