Begin with decisions, not credentials
Digital legacy planning asks what should happen to an account, not merely how someone could enter it. Some services offer memorialization, inactive-account tools, data export, or a formal request process. Record the desired outcome and the platform’s current mechanism before considering credentials.
A password list can become outdated quickly and may create unauthorized-access risk. A safer plan identifies the account, purpose, recovery route, responsible person, and location of any legally valid documents or encrypted secrets.
Map dependencies around the primary email
One email address may reset dozens of other accounts. A phone number may control two-factor authentication. A password manager may depend on a device passcode and a recovery kit. Draw these dependencies so an executor does not disable the very account needed to recover everything else.
Separate sentimental, financial, and operational value
Family photographs, tax records, domain renewals, creator income, and a social profile require different timelines and permissions. Mark items that need immediate continuity, items to preserve, items to transfer, and items to delete. Include recurring charges so they do not continue unnoticed.
Review with the people who may act
A trusted person should know that a plan exists and where to find the instructions, but they do not need unrestricted access today. Revisit the plan after a move, relationship change, new business, device replacement, or major platform change. Confirm that legal documents and platform nominations remain aligned.
Authority and intention matter more than a master password
A durable plan connects each digital asset to a desired outcome, a legitimate access path, and a person who understands the responsibility.
Further reading: CISA Secure Our World resources. External references are provided for context and do not imply affiliation.