What Happens to Your Digital Assets When You Die

Worried About What Will Happen To Your Digital Assets When You Die?

Most of us have dozens of online accounts, but very few have made a plan for what should

happen to them after we pass away. From email inboxes and social media profiles to cryptocurrency wallets and cloud photo storage, our digital lives don't simply vanish when we do. They stay behind, often locked away and inaccessible to loved ones.

It's not uncommon for someone to pass away with a carefully managed Facebook page, thousands of photos stored on Google Drive, or even a significant amount of cryptocurrency. And yet, without the right instructions in place, family members are left guessing, or worse, unable to access these assets at all.

More People Have Online Accounts Than Wills

Statistics show that the average adult in the United States has around 80 online accounts. Compare that to the fact that only one-third of Americans have a will. The disconnect is clear. We’re putting more and more of our lives online, but we’re not making plans for what should happen to it all when we're no longer around.

This isn't just about sentimental value. Some digital assets, such as Bitcoin or revenue-generating websites, possess real financial value. Others may hold deep personal meaning, like shared photo albums or saved messages. Without a legal plan or clear instructions, these assets may be lost forever or end up in legal limbo.

What Happens to Digital Assets After Death?

There's no one-size-fits-all answer, which is part of the problem. Each platform has its own set of rules, and most people are unaware of them. Google, for example, lets users set up an "Inactive Account Manager" that gives access to a trusted person after a set period of inactivity. Facebook allows profiles to be memorialized or deleted, but only if someone knows to request it.

If you’ve invested in cryptocurrency, it gets even trickier. Without access to your digital wallet or the private key, your crypto is likely unrecoverable. There's no password reset option and no central authority to appeal to. It's truly a "no access, no recovery" scenario.

Photos and files stored in the cloud can be just as complicated. Services like iCloud or Google Photos may require a court order to access, and even then, the process can be time-consuming and uncertain.

How to Protect and Pass On Digital Assets

The best way to make sure your digital assets don’t disappear into the ether is to plan ahead. Start by making a list of your important accounts, including emails, banking apps, investment platforms, photo storage, and social media. Then, decide who you trust to manage or inherit these accounts and give them access safely and legally.

That doesn't mean writing down passwords on a sticky note. A digital password manager can store this information securely, and some even offer legacy access options. You can also name a digital executor in your will, someone who is authorized to handle your online accounts when you're gone.

And, yes, you should include this in your estate plan. Simply stating, "I have Bitcoin in a wallet somewhere," isn't enough. The law is still catching up with digital property, but giving legal authority to a person you trust will go a long way in avoiding problems down the road.

Don’t Leave It to Chance

Your digital life may not be physical, but it’s just as real. Planning for what happens to digital assets after death isn’t morbid, it’s responsible, and for many, it’s an act of love.

If you don’t have a plan for your online accounts, now is the time to start. Because one day, someone will be asking questions you never thought to answer.

Let Johnson McGinnis Elder Law & Estate Planning Help

At Johnson McGinnis Elder Law & Estate Planning, we help individuals and families create plans that protect not just physical property, but digital legacies, too. Whether you have a vault full of cryptocurrency or a Google Drive packed with family photos, we’ll guide you through how to make sure your digital assets are handled the way you want. Contact our team to start the conversation.