#Digital estate planning checklist pdf password

Many of these password storage tools are free or come at a low annual cost. With one master password, your digital executor has immediate access to all of your online accounts and credentials. So instead of having a handwritten paper in the filing cabinet or an unsecured document on your computer hard drive for password storage, it’s smarter to create a protected digital file for your family.Ī password storage tool is a secure, effective way to centralize all of your account information. Most people don’t write down a list of websites and passwords – for obvious reasons because of the security concerns if that list falls into the wrong hands. What to Do with Social Media Accounts after Someone Dies Often, this list needs ongoing maintenance as you remember other websites to add. Write down a complete list of all websites and digital tools you use on your computer and phone.

Here are a few examples of digital assets you can add to your digital estate plan: Include any and all types of digital assets in your inventory. Then, pay attention to any websites that require security questions so you can include these answers in your digital estate plan as well. This part of estate planning is just as crucial as choosing beneficiaries and signing a will.īegin by writing down every online account you have, including the username and password you use for each account. With a few simple steps, you can organize your digital estate plan and leave a clear system for your digital executor to use after you die. After a certain amount of time, online service providers may delete or deactivate the accounts.Īdditionally, a digital estate plan protects your online assets against certain risks, such as fraud, hacking, and identity theft. Even worse, funds available in financial accounts aren’t available for distribution to beneficiaries. Without a digital estate plan, it’s likely that your online accounts will be overlooked. However, if you aren’t proactive about creating a digital estate plan, it could be challenging (or even impossible) for your family to access the necessary information after you die. In a digital world, people manage many details of their lives online. This information provides access so your chosen digital executor can find the necessary credentials for managing your digital accounts. What is a Digital Estate and Why is it Important?Ī digital estate plan is a method for organizing your online information. In fact, without a digital estate plan, your loved ones may not know what websites you use or where to find the logins and passwords. If you became incapacitated or died suddenly, would your family be able to access your digital information? What will happen to your digital property? Even though you regularly use these online resources, loved ones won’t have access unless you create a digital estate plan: But many people don’t have a method for centralizing or organizing their online passwords and documents. The convenience of using cloud-based services enables you to maintain your files and personal information from any location. As such, it’s essential to consider how modern estate planning accounts for digital assets, online passwords, and more.

Now, paper documentation is a thing of the past – most documents are digital. In the past, estate planning was traditionally designed as a folder of documents, often kept in a safety deposit box for the family to access after someone dies. How often do you reach for a laptop, smartphone, or tablet to talk to loved ones, check your bank account, or get updates on social media?

Technology has become an integral part of daily living. Why It’s Important to Have a Digital Estate Plan

Digital estate planning checklist pdf