Planning your digital legacy: a practical starting point

A digital legacy plan is a record of what exists, what matters to you, and where an authorized person can find instructions. It is not a guarantee that someone will be able to access every account.

List categories before individual passwords

Think about email, cloud photographs, social profiles, subscriptions, devices, business accounts, websites, and financial services. Record the account name, purpose, and where official instructions are kept. Store sensitive information securely; do not place passwords or recovery codes in an ordinary shared spreadsheet.

Separate wishes from authority

You may want photographs preserved, a public profile removed, or a subscription stopped. Write those wishes clearly, but check what each provider permits and what legal authority is needed. A note to a relative may not give them the right or technical ability to act.

Provider tools can help with particular accounts. Apple's Legacy Contact feature, for example, has an access-key and documentation process. Check the current official instructions and discuss the responsibility with the person you choose. Do not assume one setting covers other services or all data on a device.

Make the plan findable

Tell an appropriate trusted person or adviser where the plan is stored and how it can be accessed when needed. Include where to find official support instructions, not just a list of company names. If you change an important account or the person who will help, revisit the record.

Include privacy wishes

Some material concerns other people as well as you. Consider what should remain private, what may be shared, and who should decide. For estate, business, financial, or disputed access issues, seek advice specific to your jurisdiction. This checklist is a starting point for those conversations, not an estate plan.

Related reading

• Handling someone’s accounts
• Planning your own digital legacy

Sources and further information

• Apple: adding a Legacy Contact
• Apple: requesting access after a family member’s death
• Google: requests about a deceased user’s account

This is a planning guide, not legal or financial advice. Rules and access rights depend on location and circumstances. No legal review is claimed.

This guide was revised with AI assistance. Editorial bylines do not establish personal bereavement experience or professional qualifications. Read our editorial policy.