Password Management and Secure Access

Use a password manager and share the master password or emergency access with a trusted person Many managers offer emergency access that grants a contact entry after a waiting period Store your master password and recovery key in a fireproof safe or with your estate documents Never store passwords in plain text, a spreadsheet, or a sticky note

Platform-Specific Policies

Google's Inactive Account Manager lets you designate contacts who get access after inactivity Apple's Legacy Contact lets a designated person request access to your iCloud data after death Facebook lets you pick a legacy contact to manage your memorialized profile or delete the account Each platform has its own process — configure the tools for your key accounts now

Digital Estate Planning: Managing Your Online Legacy

Curated by: Rubric Advisors

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Why Digital Estate Planning Matters

The average person has 100+ online accounts, most with no default plan for what happens after death
Digital assets can hold real value — brokerage accounts, crypto, domain names, and online businesses
Without a plan, your executor may not know these accounts exist or be able to access them
A plan ensures your online presence is handled per your wishes and protects against identity theft

Building a Digital Asset Inventory

List every online account — financial, email, social media, cloud storage, subscriptions, and business
For each account, record the platform, username, phone number for two-factor auth, and security questions
Include valuables: crypto holdings, digital photos, purchased media, domain names, and digital IP
Update this inventory yearly — new accounts appear and old ones are forgotten

Legal Authority Under RUFADAA

RUFADAA, adopted in most states, governs who can access your digital accounts after death
Your wishes set via a platform's own tool (like Google Inactive Account Manager) take top priority
Without explicit authorization in your will, your executor may not be able to access accounts at all
Include a digital assets clause in your will and power of attorney granting fiduciary access

Cryptocurrency and Digital Wallets

Crypto in a self-custody wallet is controlled by private keys — lose them and the assets are gone forever
Record your seed phrase on durable material like stamped metal, stored separately from your devices
Consider whether a multi-signature wallet or custodial platform is better for estate planning purposes
Reference crypto in your estate documents with instructions on finding keys, without exposing them

Putting It All Together

Add a digital assets section to your estate plan referencing your password manager and key accounts
Designate a tech-savvy trusted contact who can navigate accessing and transferring accounts
Set up legacy tools from Google, Apple, and Facebook today — each takes just a few minutes
Review your digital estate plan annually, especially after new accounts or password manager changes

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Why Digital Estate Planning Matters

Building a Digital Asset Inventory

Password Management and Secure Access

Legal Authority Under RUFADAA

Platform-Specific Policies

Cryptocurrency and Digital Wallets

Putting It All Together

Related Topics

Cryptocurrency Fundamentals

Crypto Borrowing

Asset Protection Planning for High Earners

Why Digital Estate Planning Matters

Building a Digital Asset Inventory

Password Management and Secure Access

Legal Authority Under RUFADAA

Platform-Specific Policies

Cryptocurrency and Digital Wallets

Putting It All Together

Related Topics

Cryptocurrency Fundamentals

Crypto Borrowing

Asset Protection Planning for High Earners