A digital legacy plan is a short document that tells your family what you have online and what you want done. It is a kind and practical gift. This how-to is part of our guide to passwords for families and digital legacy.
- A list of important accounts
- Who your legacy contacts are
- Where your password manager's emergency kit is
- What you want done with each account
- Passwords and PINs
- Recovery phrases
- Backup codes
- Anything that works alone if the plan is found
The golden rule
The plan contains no passwords. It says what exists and where to find help. If a copy is found by the wrong person, it should give them nothing they can use.
What to include
Your key devices
Which phone, computer and tablet you use, and who you would like to have them.
Your accounts
| Account type | Provider | Username or email | My wishes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main email | Keep for one year, then close | ||
| Bank | Handled by executor | ||
| Cloud photos | Download and share with family | ||
| Social media | Memorialize | ||
| Subscriptions | Cancel | ||
| Domain or business | Transfer to a named person |
Access arrangements
- Your legacy contacts.
- Where your password manager's emergency kit is kept, without the password itself. Keep the master password in a separate sealed location.
- Who has emergency access.
Who to call
Your lawyer, accountant, IT-savvy friend or anyone who can help.
Your wishes
What should happen to your photos, your social profiles and your online writing. A few personal sentences will mean a lot.
Where to keep it
- With your will and other important papers.
- In a home safe, or with your lawyer.
- With a copy for your executor.
Keep the plan and any sealed access details apart. Your plan says where things are. It does not hold them.
Tell someone
A perfect plan helps nobody if it is never found. Tell one or two people that it exists, and say where it is. Review it once a year, in your yearly password check-up.