This is an uncomfortable topic, but a little planning spares your family real difficulty. This guide is part of our guide to passwords for families and digital legacy.
What your family will face
Without a plan, loved ones may have to:
- Find out which accounts you had.
- Get past phones and computers they cannot unlock.
- Prove their right to access, often account by account.
- Keep paying subscriptions, or lose photos and documents.
How major services handle death
| Service | What it offers |
|---|---|
| Apple | Legacy Contact, using an access key, for most account data |
| Inactive Account Manager, which shares data after a period of inactivity | |
| Legacy contact or memorialized account | |
| Memorialized account, or removal on request | |
| Banks | Handled through the estate process, with a death certificate |
| Email providers | Varies, and may need legal documents |
Policies change, so check each service's official help page. Our guide on setting up legacy contacts shows how to use these tools.
The legal side
Laws differ across countries, and many US states have passed laws that address access to digital accounts by an executor. Terms of service often say that accounts are not transferable. Speak to a lawyer about your estate. Do not treat our guide as legal advice.
What can be lost
- Family photos, if they are stored in an account that nobody can open.
- Money, in forgotten accounts, payment apps or online businesses.
- Crypto, which can be lost forever without the right information. See how to pass on crypto.
- Domain names, websites and subscriptions.
- Loyalty points and credits.
What you can do now
- Set up legacy contacts on your main accounts.
- Create a digital legacy plan. It should list accounts but contain no passwords.
- Set up emergency access to your password vault.
- Tell someone you trust where to find these details.
- Download or share important photos.
If you are dealing with a loved one's accounts
Gather a death certificate and proof of your role, and contact each company through its official site. Do not pay anyone offering to unlock accounts. Close or memorialize social profiles, because criminals target the accounts of people who have died. Cancel cards, and check credit reports for fraud.