What Happens to Your Digital Legacy After You Die
Our lives are spread across devices, platforms, and clouds. Every message, photo, and file contributes to our story. But what happens to that story when we’re gone?
That’s the question behind digital estate planning and managing your digital legacy - a field that’s becoming central to how families preserve memories and protect online assets. Insurance & Estates explains how digital estate planning works, and why it now sits beside traditional wills and trusts.
This guide covers:
What counts as a digital asset
How to plan and protect your digital presence
Common pitfalls and how to avoid them
A simple roadmap to get started today
What Is a Digital Legacy?
A digital legacy is the collection of your online accounts, files, and memories - from photos and messages to cryptocurrencies and domains.
As the University of Melbourne put it, “Most of us will leave behind a large digital legacy when we die.”
This legacy matters because:
It reflects who you were - your ideas, creativity, and values.
It holds value - emotional and financial. Americans now estimate their digital assets are worth nearly $200,000 on average, according to Bryn Mawr Trust research.
Without a plan, it can disappear - locked behind passwords, or deleted by platforms.
Why Traditional Estate Planning Isn’t Enough
Wills and trusts handle property, not passwords. Merrill Lynch calls digital assets “different animals” from traditional ones.
Here’s why:
Access barriers: Passwords, two-factor authentication, and security questions can block loved ones.
Platform rules: Social networks and cloud services each have their own post-death policies.
Hidden value: Many people don’t realize how many digital assets they own or how valuable they are.
New asset types: NFTs, crypto, and digital storefronts don’t fit neatly into old legal frameworks.
Step-by-Step: How to Manage Your Digital Legacy
1. Make an inventory
List everything that exists online:
Social media (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn)
Email and cloud storage (Gmail, iCloud, Dropbox)
Photos and videos
Subscriptions and SaaS accounts
Websites, domains, blogs
Cryptocurrency and wallets
Online financial or loyalty accounts
Start simple - a spreadsheet or password manager works fine.
2. Define what happens to each item
Ask yourself:
Should it be deleted, passed on, or memorialized?
Does the platform allow inheritance or closure?
For example, Facebook’s legacy contact feature lets someone manage your memorialized account — but only if you set it up in advance.
3. Appoint a digital executor
This is someone you trust to handle online matters. They should have both legal permission and technical ability. Many states now allow a “digital assets addendum” to your will - Insurance & Estates has templates and guidance.
4. Secure your data
Never include passwords directly in legal documents. Instead, store them in an encrypted vault or password manager with emergency access features.
5. Keep it current
Update your plan once a year, or whenever major life or tech changes occur. As Insurance & Estates notes, digital estates evolve fast - your plan should too.
Read more:
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Ignoring your digital life completely.
Forgetting assets like domains, apps, or crypto.
Leaving unclear instructions for your heirs.
Assuming loved ones can “just log in.”
Overlooking privacy or security risks.
Why Digital Legacy Planning Matters Now
Our online presence grows every day — and with it, the risk of losing part of who we are. The Precedence Research report projects significant growth in the digital-legacy sector, driven by rising awareness and new estate-tech solutions.
A clear plan isn’t just about protecting data. It’s about preserving identity, meaning, and memory.
The Emotional Side of Digital Legacy
This isn’t only about files and passwords. It’s about presence - ensuring your story, voice, and photos continue to live within your family’s memory.
At Glow, we believe your digital footprint tells the story of your life. A well-planned digital legacy helps keep that story accessible, interactive, and human - for generations to come.
Final Thoughts
Your digital life is part of your real legacy. Protect it like you protect everything else you care about. Take a few hours to organize, document, and share your wishes - your family, and your story, will thank you.
FAQ
Q: Can I let my loved ones access all my online accounts after I’m gone without giving them passwords now?
A: In principle yes, but in practice it's risky. Many platforms require log-in credentials, two-factor authentication or recovery info. Simply telling someone verbally isn’t enough; you’ll need to store access info (securely) and legally appoint a digital executor so they’re authorised to act.
Q: Will my social media accounts automatically be deleted when I die?
A: Not always. Each platform has its own policy. Some (like Facebook) allow you to set a “legacy contact” who can manage or memorialise the account. Others may simply lock the account or delete it after inactivity. You should check each service’s terms of service.
Q: Are digital photos and messages considered part of my estate? Will they go through probate?
A: Yes, digital items such as photos, emails, messages, cloud-storage files are increasingly seen as part of your digital estate. Whether they go through probate depends on states and how the will/trust is structured. Many digital-estate planning resources include “digital assets” in the definition of “estate”.
Q: What happens if I don’t include digital assets in my will?
A: If you omit digital assets, your loved ones may face access problems (lost passwords, locked accounts), or assets may remain unused or deleted. A will-only plan might not cover login credentials, platform-specific rules or authorize a digital executor. This creates risk of loss.
Q: Can someone claim my digital assets (crypto, domain names, online business) if I didn’t plan ahead?
A: Possibly, but the outcome can be messy. With crypto especially, if no one has the private key your asset may be lost forever. Domain names and online businesses often require specific login credentials or ownership transfer steps. Planning ahead ensures your heirs have the ability to act.
Q: My parent/partner died and we don’t have their passwords - what should I do?
A: First, collect what information you do have: device access, email recovery options, username lists. Then check each platform’s “deceased user” policy (many social networks provide a process). Next, look at any legal documents (will, trust) that might grant you access or position you as digital executor. If none, you may need legal help to establish access.
Q: How do I protect my privacy while also giving access to someone I trust in future?
A: Use a secure password manager or encrypted vault, create an access plan (who, when, how), and keep recovery instructions separate from your everyday credentials. You can designate one person who knows how to access the vault after your passing, while keeping day-to-day privacy intact.
Q: Does digital legacy equal death planning? Can I use these tools while I’m still alive?
A: Yes - digital legacy planning isn’t just about “after death”. It covers what happens if you become incapacitated (illness, accident) and how your digital presence continues. Many tools and services let you act now, set instructions, define guardians, choose deletion or archiving of data.
Q: I only have a few online accounts, do I still need to do this?
A: Yes. Even a few accounts (email, social media, cloud photos) can hold meaningful personal history and value. The absence of visible “big asset” doesn’t mean there’s no risk or no story. Planning is about preserving your voice, memories and continuity - not just “wealth”.
Q: What should I do if I add new digital assets (e.g., crypto, NFT, new social app)?
A: Update your inventory, review your instructions (what you want done with this new asset), and notify your digital executor/trusted person. Digital life changes fast - revisiting your plan at least annually (or when major changes happen) is best practice.
