How do you organize your online accounts for estate planning?

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Organizing digital accounts requires documenting what exists, where it is held, how access is controlled, and how platforms and law govern access. Core components: Inventory of online accounts (email, banking, social media, subscriptions) Identification of platforms and account ownership context Record of access methods (login, recovery, authentication systems) Documentation of digital assets with financial or legal value Identification of platform-specific account management or legacy tools Account types: Financial digital assets (e.g., payment platforms, digital wallets): May allow transfer or withdrawal subject to verification Service-based accounts (e.g., email, social media): Typically non-transferable May be memorialized, archived, or deleted according to platform rules What This Helps Your Family Do Identify and locate digital accounts and assets Determine which platforms must be contacted Align actions with legal authority and platform requirements What This Does Not Allow Does not grant legal authority to access or control accounts Does not override platform terms of service or applicable law Does not allow use of passwords as authorization Does not guarantee access, transfer, or recovery of accounts Who Has Legal Authority to Act During incapacity: Authority is granted through valid power of attorney where applicable After death: No individual has authority immediately at death The executor named in a will has authority only after court validation If no will exists, the court-appointed administrator has authority Access to digital accounts is governed by Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act where adopted, along with platform policies and terms of service Having Information Does Not Give Access Knowing usernames, passwords, or having device access does not grant legal authority. Platforms do not recognize passwords as legal authorization Accounts are governed by license agreements, not traditional ownership Unauthorized access is blocked, reversed, or denied What Is Required Before Anything Can Happen Before access or control is granted: Certified death certificate is required (after death) Legal authority must be established (executor or administrator) Platforms require: Formal request through designated processes Proof of identity and legal authority Additional documentation based on account type If configured, platform legacy or account management tools take priority over other instructions. What Happens Next Death or incapacity is documented Digital account inventory is used to identify platforms and accounts Legal authority is established through valid documents or court appointment Platforms are contacted through their official processes Platforms verify documentation, authority, and account eligibility Based on platform rules and governing law: Access may be granted Access may be limited (e.g., data only, no control) Access may be denied entirely Accounts are handled according to platform policies (transfer, closure, memorialization, or no action permitted) Situations That Change What Happens Platform-specific legacy tools are configured and override other instructions The platform prohibits transfer or access under its terms of service No digital inventory exists, making accounts difficult to locate Two-factor authentication or recovery methods are inaccessible Accounts contain financial value versus personal data State law governs fiduciary access differently depending on jurisdiction What Can Go Wrong Access is denied even with legal authority Platforms enforce terms of service over user expectations Password-based access attempts are rejected or reversed Two-factor authentication prevents account entry Accounts are permanently inaccessible due to missing information Financial digital assets are overlooked or lost Who Controls What Platform tools and account settings control access if configured Applicable law, including Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act, governs fiduciary access where adopted Terms of service agreements define what actions are permitted The court establishes legal authority but does not guarantee access Executors or administrators act only within limits allowed by platforms and law Why This Creates Problems Digital accounts are not centralized or documented Platform rules vary and are strictly enforced Access is governed by license agreements, not ownership rights Families assume login credentials provide control Legal authority does not guarantee platform approval for access Which Information Matters Most Account inventory with platform names Associated email addresses and usernames Description of account purpose and value Identification of platform-specific tools or settings Location of access instructions or recovery methods How to Set This Up Digital accounts must be documented with identifying and platform-specific information Access is governed by platform tools, applicable law, and terms of service Legal authority is required but does not guarantee access Platform policies determine whether access, transfer, or closure is permitted Documentation must be accessible to the appropriate individual when needed

Digital Estate Planning: How to Organize Your Online Accounts

How do you organize your online accounts for estate planning?

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How Families Keep This Information Organized