Digital Assets Guide
Your digital life has real value. From cryptocurrency to photo libraries, online accounts to password vaults - modern estates extend far beyond physical property. This guide explains how to identify, document, and protect your digital assets within your estate plan.
Important: Never put passwords or keys in your will
Wills become public documents after probate. Store sensitive access details in a secure, separate memorandum referenced by your will, not within it.
Cryptocurrency & Digital Finance
Bitcoin, Ethereum, NFTs, and digital wallets hold real financial value. Without clear instructions and access keys, these assets can be lost forever when you pass away.
- •Document wallet addresses and seed phrase storage locations (never store the seed phrase itself in your will)
- •Name a technically capable executor or provide instructions for a specialist service
- •Consider a memorandum of wishes separate from your will for sensitive access details
Social Media & Online Accounts
Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and email accounts contain personal memories and communications. Each platform has different policies for deceased users.
- •Use platform legacy contact features (e.g. Facebook Legacy Contact)
- •List accounts and your wishes for each (memorialise, delete, or download data)
- •Store a secure inventory of usernames - never passwords - alongside your will
Cloud Storage & Digital Files
Photos, documents, and videos stored in iCloud, Google Drive, or Dropbox may be inaccessible to your family without proper planning.
- •Identify which cloud services hold important family memories
- •Grant a trusted person conditional access or document recovery procedures
- •Consider a digital vault service for critical documents
Passwords & Access Keys
Password managers, two-factor authentication apps, and recovery codes are the keys to your digital life. Planning for their transfer is essential.
- •Use a password manager with emergency access features
- •Document the location of recovery codes and 2FA backup methods
- •Never list passwords directly in your will - wills become public documents after probate
Email & Subscriptions
Email accounts are the gateway to nearly every other online service. Recurring subscriptions and digital purchases also need to be addressed.
- •Ensure your executor can access your primary email to manage accounts
- •List recurring subscriptions so they can be cancelled
- •Address ownership of purchased digital media (films, books, music)
Online Businesses & Domains
If you run a website, online store, or digital business, these assets have commercial value and need succession planning.
- •Document domain registrars and hosting providers
- •Outline procedures for transferring or winding down online operations
- •Consider the value of digital goodwill and customer databases
How to document your digital assets
Follow these steps to ensure your digital estate is properly accounted for:
- Create an inventory - List every online account, digital wallet, cloud service, and subscription you own. Include the service name and your username or account identifier.
- Decide on wishes - For each asset, note whether it should be transferred, memorialised, deleted, or managed by a specific person.
- Store access securely - Use a password manager with emergency access, or a sealed memorandum stored with your will. Never include raw passwords in the will itself.
- Name a digital executor - Consider appointing someone technically capable, or instructing your executor to engage a specialist. Make sure your will grants them authority to access digital assets.
- Review regularly - Digital assets change quickly. Update your inventory at least annually, or whenever you open significant new accounts.
The legal position in the UK
UK law is still catching up with digital assets. The Wills Act 1837, which governs how wills are made, predates the internet by over 150 years. While physical and financial assets are well covered, digital assets exist in a grey area - particularly around ownership, access rights, and whether they can be bequeathed at all.
The Law Commission's ongoing review of wills legislation, and the broader push toward modernising succession law, signals that digital assets will receive clearer legal treatment in the coming years. Willsure tracks these developments and updates its knowledge base accordingly, so your estate plan stays aligned with the law as it evolves.
In the meantime, the most effective protection is thorough documentation and clear instructions. A well-structured memorandum of digital assets, referenced by a properly drafted will, gives your executors the best chance of carrying out your wishes.