You probably don’t like to think about it much, but one fact of life is absolutely 100% irrefutable, “nobody gets out of this life alive.” As bleak as it is to consider, doin so will help those you leave behind a much easier way to go.
Something that is a huge part of most of our daily lies, yet few think about what will happen to once we are gone is what is referred to as our digital legacy. Things like your banking and bill records, subscriptions and other things you may have on auto-pay, social media accounts, email accounts you have, pictures and medical records or other sensitive information you may have stored on your computer or phone are usually password protected.
I have a unique way of establishing different passwords for each website or program I use. Easy (for me) to remember. It drives my wife crazy!
After my stroke, I discovered the importance of having a list of key accounts and passwords for someone to access in my absence. I couldn’t remember any of my passwords, and that kind of put my wife in a bad situation.
Fortunately for me, I lived. Had I at least written my passwords down somewhere that she could get to, and where I was able to tell her the location of. It made things much easier for her.
Think about the amount of content you have created in the almost 25 years you have lived in this digital world of ours. I will admit, a lot of it is of no interest to anyone but me. However, there is some vital information that my wife will need to access when I’m gone.
Planning for digital legacies and the important documents of your life is crucial to assist your loved ones in managing your affairs smoothly if you become incapacitated or pass away is crucial. It protects those you love and helps to ensure that your wishes are honored. Here are some key items to consider:
Digital Legacy Items
Password Manager: Store all your account logins and passwords in a safe place, ready for your loved ones to access. You could also use a password manager like Password or LastPass. Share access with trusted individuals.
Email Accounts: Provide access to your primary email accounts, as these are often used for account recovery and communication.
Social Media Accounts: Designate legacy contacts on platforms like Facebook and Google to manage your accounts after you’re gone. These platforms allow you to designate a legacy contact to manage your account after you pass away.
Financial Accounts: Include bank accounts, investment accounts, cryptocurrency wallets, and any other financial assets.
Cloud Storage: Ensure access to cloud storage services like Google Drive, Dropbox, or iCloud where important documents and photos might be stored.
Subscription Services: List any subscription services (e.g., Netflix, Amazon Prime) that may need to be canceled or managed.
Some other traditionally non-digital, but equally important documents you may want to gather in one easy to get to location are below. This is not an exhaustive list for your situation:
Important Documents
Last Will and Testament: Ensure your will is up-to-date and accessible to your executor.
Power of Attorney: Assign someone to make legal and financial decisions on your behalf if you’re unable to do so.
Healthcare Proxy: Designate a person to make medical decisions for you if you’re incapacitated.
Insurance Policies: Include life, health, home, and auto insurance policies.
Property Deeds and Titles: Ensure access to documents related to any property you own.
Tax Documents: Keep recent tax returns and related documents accessible.
Personal Identification: Include copies of your passport, driver’s license, and social security card.
Additional Steps
Create a Digital Legacy Plan: Document all the above information in a secure, organized manner. Consider using a digital legacy service or creating a physical “in case of emergency” binder.
Communicate with Trusted Individuals: Make sure the people you’ve designated are aware of their roles and responsibilities.
It may the policies of key accounts to determine what their process is. Taking these steps can provide peace of mind and make a difficult time a bit easier for your loved ones. Learn more1nytimes.com2pcmag.com3tidbits.com.
I have only recently begun my journey of creating my own digital legacy and important document file myself. However, I have chosen to use one of those small, portable fire safes to store my hard documents in instead of a binder. On an old computer, I have discovered items dating back to 2007. I had no idea this information still existed until I started looking. It was like a time capsule for me! I have found an account with forgotten money, pictures I would rather nobody else see, and others I thought I had forever lost.
