Photos, email, banking apps, cloud storage, a business login only you know. When someone dies or can no longer manage their affairs, families often find the digital side is the hardest part to untangle. A little planning now makes it far easier for the people you leave behind.
start with an inventory
Write down what exists and where it lives. You are drawing a map, not listing passwords. Aim to cover:
- email accounts and the phone number tied to them
- photos and files in cloud storage
- banking, pension and investment logins
- subscriptions and online shopping accounts
- business tools, domain names and social accounts
- crypto wallets and the devices that unlock them
give trusted people a way in
Use a password manager and set up emergency access, so someone you choose can request entry when it is needed. Apple, Google and Facebook also let you nominate a legacy contact or decide what happens to an inactive account. Each takes a few minutes to switch on.
write it down and tell someone
Keep key documents together, such as insurance policies, pension details and ID, and make sure your executor knows where to find them. Don't put passwords in your will, because wills can become public once probate is granted. A solicitor can advise on how your digital assets fit with your will.
Most of all, a plan nobody knows about doesn't help. Tell one trusted person where everything is.
review it once a year
Accounts change, phones get replaced and people move house. Set a yearly reminder to update your inventory, check your emergency contacts still make sense and confirm the right person still knows where to look.
If you would like help pulling this together, mention it when you book a free tech health check. We can show you what a tidy, secure set-up looks like for your family.
written by
Langridge.co team
managed IT, family office tech and business tools