Digital Estate Planner
A comprehensive guide for organizing your digital life so that in the event of death, incapacity, or emergency, your loved ones can access what they need without guessing passwords, hunting for accounts, or losing irreplaceable data.
Core Philosophy
We plan for physical death but ignore digital death. This skill helps you:
- Document accounts and access methods systematically
- Designate what should happen to digital assets
- Preserve important data and memories
- Create clear instructions for digital executors
- Do this in a way that maintains security while enabling access
The Digital Estate Problem
What happens when someone dies:
PHYSICAL WORLD:
- Safe deposit box → Bank knows location, key exists
- House → Deed on file, keys can be made
- Car → Title exists, spare key somewhere
DIGITAL WORLD:
- Email → Password unknown, 2FA on dead phone
- Photos → Which cloud? iCloud? Google? Both? Neither?
- Crypto → Private keys? Seed phrase? Hardware wallet location?
- Subscriptions → Which cards? Auto-renewing forever?
- Social media → How to memorialize? Who has access?
Decision Tree
What is the user trying to accomplish?
├── FULL ESTATE PLANNING → Complete digital inventory + instructions
├── EMERGENCY ACCESS SETUP → Minimal viable access for trusted person
├── SPECIFIC ACCOUNT QUESTIONS → Single account legacy settings
├── CRYPTO/FINANCIAL ASSETS → High-security asset documentation
├── SOCIAL MEDIA LEGACY → Memorialization and content decisions
└── PHOTO/DATA PRESERVATION → Ensuring memories survive
Is there a trusted person designated?
├── NO → Help identify digital executor first
└── YES → Proceed with documentation
What is the security comfort level?
├── HIGH (tech-savvy) → Can use password manager inheritance, encrypted docs
├── MEDIUM → Password manager + written backup in secure location
├── LOW → Written documentation in secure physical location
The Digital Inventory
Tier 1: Critical Access (Must have for estate management)
| Account Type |
Examples |
Priority |
| Primary email |
Gmail, Outlook, iCloud |
CRITICAL |
| Phone/carrier |
Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile |
CRITICAL |
| Password manager |
1Password, Bitwarden, LastPass |
CRITICAL |
| Banking |
Primary bank, credit cards |
CRITICAL |
| Government |
SSA, IRS, DMV accounts |
HIGH |
| Insurance |
Life, health, auto, home |
HIGH |
Tier 2: Financial Assets
| Asset Type |
Documentation Needed |
| Bank accounts |
Account numbers, online access, location of cards |
| Investment accounts |
Brokerage, 401k, IRA access info |
| Cryptocurrency |
Wallet addresses, seed phrases, hardware wallet location |
| PayPal/Venmo |
Account access for balance recovery |
| Property deeds |
Digital copies location, original locations |
Tier 3: Digital Memories
| Type |
Preservation Action |
| Photos |
Identify ALL locations (phone, cloud, social), consolidate |
| Videos |
Same as photos—often more scattered |
| Documents |
Identify family archives, important files |
| Social media |
Download archives, decide preservation wishes |
| Creative work |
Writing, art, projects—where stored? |
Tier 4: Ongoing Services
| Service |
Death Action |
| Subscriptions |
List all, note which to cancel |
| Domains |
Renewal info, transfer instructions |
| Hosting |
Websites, what should happen to them |
| Cloud storage |
Paid plans that need canceling or transferring |
The Digital Executor
Who Should This Be?
Good candidates:
- Tech-comfortable (can navigate password managers, 2FA)
- Trustworthy (obvious, but critical)
- Likely to outlive you
- Emotionally capable of handling your digital life
Consider:
- Same person as physical executor? (Often yes, but not required)
- Backup digital executor?
- Specific person for specific assets? (Crypto expert for crypto)
What They Need
Create a "Digital Executor Letter" containing:
# Digital Executor Instructions for [Name]
## If I Die or Become Incapacitated
### Immediate Access
1. My password manager is: [1Password/Bitwarden/etc]
- Master password location: [safe deposit box/with attorney/sealed envelope location]
- Emergency access feature: [if applicable, how to trigger it]
2. My phone passcode: [stored with master password OR specific location]
3. My primary email: [address]
- Access through password manager
- This email is recovery email for most other accounts
### Critical First Steps
1. Access email and phone to receive 2FA codes
2. Notify these accounts of death: [list priority accounts]
3. Download/preserve: [list what matters]
4. Cancel: [list subscriptions to stop]
### Specific Account Instructions
[Bank Name]: Contact branch at [location], reference account #[number]
[Crypto]: Hardware wallet in [location], seed phrase in [separate location]
[Social Media]: Please memorialize / delete / [specific instructions]
### What I Want Preserved
- Photos in [Google Photos/iCloud/etc] - please download and keep
- Writing in [location] - please share with [person]
- [Specific items with specific instructions]
### What Can Be Deleted
- Browser history (please don't look, just delete)
- [Other items you don't care about preserving]
Password Manager Inheritance Features
1Password
- Emergency Kit: PDF with account info, Secret Key, printed password
- Family/Team sharing: Add trusted person to vault
- Tip: Store Emergency Kit with attorney or in safe deposit box
Bitwarden
- Emergency Access: Trusted contact can request access, waiting period you set
- Organizations: Shared vaults for family
- Export: Can create encrypted backup
LastPass
- Emergency Access: Similar to Bitwarden—trusted contact, waiting period
- Family plan: Shared folders
Apple Keychain
- Legacy Contact: iOS 15.2+, designate someone who can request access
- Recovery Key: Store securely if used
Google
- Inactive Account Manager: Designate contacts, set inactivity period
- Data download: Contacts get access to specified data after inactivity
Cryptocurrency Special Handling
Crypto is the highest-risk digital asset for inheritance. Private keys = ownership.
Documentation Required
CRYPTO ESTATE DOCUMENTATION
───────────────────────────
Exchange Accounts: [Coinbase, Kraken, etc]
- Login credentials in password manager
- 2FA backup codes stored with master password
Hardware Wallets: [Ledger, Trezor]
- Physical location: [where]
- PIN: [stored with seed phrase OR separate location]
Seed Phrases: [CRITICAL - this is the money]
- Location: [safe deposit box, fireproof safe, split storage]
- NEVER store digitally unless encrypted
- Consider: stamped metal backup (fireproof)
Software Wallets: [MetaMask, etc]
- Seed phrase location: [same security as hardware]
Instructions:
- How to access: [step by step for non-crypto person]
- What to do: [hold, sell, transfer to specific wallet]
- Who can help: [crypto-savvy friend/advisor name and contact]
Seed Phrase Security
Options for seed phrase storage:
- Safe deposit box - Bank access, but bank can access too
- Home fireproof safe - You control, fire risk lower
- Split storage - Half with attorney, half in safe (requires both)
- Metal backup - Stamped steel survives fire/flood
- Shamir's Secret Sharing - Technical but very secure
Social Media Legacy Settings
Facebook
- Legacy Contact: Designate someone to manage memorialized account
- Options: Memorialize (frozen tribute) or Delete after death
- Location: Settings > Memorialization Settings
Instagram
- Memorialization: Request form available, requires proof of death
- Removal: Can request account removal with proof
Twitter/X
- Deactivation: Family can request with death certificate
- No memorialization: Account either stays or goes
LinkedIn
- Memorialization: Family can request, becomes memorial page
- Removal: Also available upon request
Google/YouTube
- Inactive Account Manager: Best option, proactive setup
- Posthumous: Family can request access/deletion with documentation
Photo Preservation Strategy
Photos are often the most emotionally important digital assets:
Consolidation Checklist
Preservation Actions
- Consolidate to one primary location
- Backup to secondary location (3-2-1 rule: 3 copies, 2 media types, 1 offsite)
- Document where everything is
- Share access with trusted person now
- Label important folders ("Wedding 2019", "Kids Baby Photos")
Annual Review Checklist
Digital estates change. Review annually:
Anti-Patterns
❌ Storing master password digitally unencrypted
❌ Telling no one about the plan
❌ Assuming family can "figure it out"
❌ Putting seed phrases in cloud storage
❌ Not testing the access methods
❌ Forgetting about old accounts
Integration with Other Skills
- grief-companion: Emotional support alongside practical planning
- pet-memorial-creator: Digital memorials for pets
- career-biographer: Preserving professional legacy
- panic-room-finder: Finding secure physical storage locations
The Gift
Digital estate planning isn't morbid—it's a gift to those who love you. When they're grieving, they won't have to guess passwords, hunt for accounts, or lose precious photos. You've made the hardest time a little bit easier.
That's love in practical form.
1---2name: digital-estate-planner-23description: Organizing digital life for legacy, emergency access, and death preparedness. Specializes in password management, account documentation, digital asset preservation, and ensuring loved ones can access what they need.4---56# Digital Estate Planner78A comprehensive guide for organizing your digital life so that in the event of death, incapacity, or emergency, your loved ones can access what they need without guessing passwords, hunting for accounts, or losing irreplaceable data.910## Core Philosophy1112We plan for physical death but ignore digital death. This skill helps you:13- Document accounts and access methods systematically14- Designate what should happen to digital assets15- Preserve important data and memories16- Create clear instructions for digital executors17- Do this in a way that maintains security while enabling access1819## The Digital Estate Problem2021```22What happens when someone dies:2324PHYSICAL WORLD:25- Safe deposit box → Bank knows location, key exists26- House → Deed on file, keys can be made27- Car → Title exists, spare key somewhere2829DIGITAL WORLD:30- Email → Password unknown, 2FA on dead phone31- Photos → Which cloud? iCloud? Google? Both? Neither?32- Crypto → Private keys? Seed phrase? Hardware wallet location?33- Subscriptions → Which cards? Auto-renewing forever?34- Social media → How to memorialize? Who has access?35```3637## Decision Tree3839```40What is the user trying to accomplish?41├── FULL ESTATE PLANNING → Complete digital inventory + instructions42├── EMERGENCY ACCESS SETUP → Minimal viable access for trusted person43├── SPECIFIC ACCOUNT QUESTIONS → Single account legacy settings44├── CRYPTO/FINANCIAL ASSETS → High-security asset documentation45├── SOCIAL MEDIA LEGACY → Memorialization and content decisions46└── PHOTO/DATA PRESERVATION → Ensuring memories survive4748Is there a trusted person designated?49├── NO → Help identify digital executor first50└── YES → Proceed with documentation5152What is the security comfort level?53├── HIGH (tech-savvy) → Can use password manager inheritance, encrypted docs54├── MEDIUM → Password manager + written backup in secure location55├── LOW → Written documentation in secure physical location56```5758## The Digital Inventory5960### Tier 1: Critical Access (Must have for estate management)6162| Account Type | Examples | Priority |63|-------------|----------|----------|64| Primary email | Gmail, Outlook, iCloud | CRITICAL |65| Phone/carrier | Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile | CRITICAL |66| Password manager | 1Password, Bitwarden, LastPass | CRITICAL |67| Banking | Primary bank, credit cards | CRITICAL |68| Government | SSA, IRS, DMV accounts | HIGH |69| Insurance | Life, health, auto, home | HIGH |7071### Tier 2: Financial Assets7273| Asset Type | Documentation Needed |74|------------|---------------------|75| Bank accounts | Account numbers, online access, location of cards |76| Investment accounts | Brokerage, 401k, IRA access info |77| Cryptocurrency | Wallet addresses, seed phrases, hardware wallet location |78| PayPal/Venmo | Account access for balance recovery |79| Property deeds | Digital copies location, original locations |8081### Tier 3: Digital Memories8283| Type | Preservation Action |84|------|-------------------|85| Photos | Identify ALL locations (phone, cloud, social), consolidate |86| Videos | Same as photos—often more scattered |87| Documents | Identify family archives, important files |88| Social media | Download archives, decide preservation wishes |89| Creative work | Writing, art, projects—where stored? |9091### Tier 4: Ongoing Services9293| Service | Death Action |94|---------|--------------|95| Subscriptions | List all, note which to cancel |96| Domains | Renewal info, transfer instructions |97| Hosting | Websites, what should happen to them |98| Cloud storage | Paid plans that need canceling or transferring |99100## The Digital Executor101102### Who Should This Be?103104**Good candidates:**105- Tech-comfortable (can navigate password managers, 2FA)106- Trustworthy (obvious, but critical)107- Likely to outlive you108- Emotionally capable of handling your digital life109110**Consider:**111- Same person as physical executor? (Often yes, but not required)112- Backup digital executor?113- Specific person for specific assets? (Crypto expert for crypto)114115### What They Need116117Create a "Digital Executor Letter" containing:118119```markdown120# Digital Executor Instructions for [Name]121122## If I Die or Become Incapacitated123124### Immediate Access1251261. My password manager is: [1Password/Bitwarden/etc]127 - Master password location: [safe deposit box/with attorney/sealed envelope location]128 - Emergency access feature: [if applicable, how to trigger it]1291302. My phone passcode: [stored with master password OR specific location]1311323. My primary email: [address]133 - Access through password manager134 - This email is recovery email for most other accounts135136### Critical First Steps1371381. Access email and phone to receive 2FA codes1392. Notify these accounts of death: [list priority accounts]1403. Download/preserve: [list what matters]1414. Cancel: [list subscriptions to stop]142143### Specific Account Instructions144145[Bank Name]: Contact branch at [location], reference account #[number]146[Crypto]: Hardware wallet in [location], seed phrase in [separate location]147[Social Media]: Please memorialize / delete / [specific instructions]148149### What I Want Preserved150151- Photos in [Google Photos/iCloud/etc] - please download and keep152- Writing in [location] - please share with [person]153- [Specific items with specific instructions]154155### What Can Be Deleted156157- Browser history (please don't look, just delete)158- [Other items you don't care about preserving]159```160161## Password Manager Inheritance Features162163### 1Password164- **Emergency Kit**: PDF with account info, Secret Key, printed password165- **Family/Team sharing**: Add trusted person to vault166- **Tip**: Store Emergency Kit with attorney or in safe deposit box167168### Bitwarden169- **Emergency Access**: Trusted contact can request access, waiting period you set170- **Organizations**: Shared vaults for family171- **Export**: Can create encrypted backup172173### LastPass174- **Emergency Access**: Similar to Bitwarden—trusted contact, waiting period175- **Family plan**: Shared folders176177### Apple Keychain178- **Legacy Contact**: iOS 15.2+, designate someone who can request access179- **Recovery Key**: Store securely if used180181### Google182- **Inactive Account Manager**: Designate contacts, set inactivity period183- **Data download**: Contacts get access to specified data after inactivity184185## Cryptocurrency Special Handling186187Crypto is the highest-risk digital asset for inheritance. Private keys = ownership.188189### Documentation Required190191```192CRYPTO ESTATE DOCUMENTATION193───────────────────────────194195Exchange Accounts: [Coinbase, Kraken, etc]196- Login credentials in password manager197- 2FA backup codes stored with master password198199Hardware Wallets: [Ledger, Trezor]200- Physical location: [where]201- PIN: [stored with seed phrase OR separate location]202203Seed Phrases: [CRITICAL - this is the money]204- Location: [safe deposit box, fireproof safe, split storage]205- NEVER store digitally unless encrypted206- Consider: stamped metal backup (fireproof)207208Software Wallets: [MetaMask, etc]209- Seed phrase location: [same security as hardware]210211Instructions:212- How to access: [step by step for non-crypto person]213- What to do: [hold, sell, transfer to specific wallet]214- Who can help: [crypto-savvy friend/advisor name and contact]215```216217### Seed Phrase Security218219Options for seed phrase storage:2201. **Safe deposit box** - Bank access, but bank can access too2212. **Home fireproof safe** - You control, fire risk lower2223. **Split storage** - Half with attorney, half in safe (requires both)2234. **Metal backup** - Stamped steel survives fire/flood2245. **Shamir's Secret Sharing** - Technical but very secure225226## Social Media Legacy Settings227228### Facebook229- **Legacy Contact**: Designate someone to manage memorialized account230- **Options**: Memorialize (frozen tribute) or Delete after death231- **Location**: Settings > Memorialization Settings232233### Instagram234- **Memorialization**: Request form available, requires proof of death235- **Removal**: Can request account removal with proof236237### Twitter/X238- **Deactivation**: Family can request with death certificate239- **No memorialization**: Account either stays or goes240241### LinkedIn242- **Memorialization**: Family can request, becomes memorial page243- **Removal**: Also available upon request244245### Google/YouTube246- **Inactive Account Manager**: Best option, proactive setup247- **Posthumous**: Family can request access/deletion with documentation248249## Photo Preservation Strategy250251Photos are often the most emotionally important digital assets:252253### Consolidation Checklist254255- [ ] iPhone photos → where backed up? (iCloud, Google, both?)256- [ ] Android photos → Google Photos? Local?257- [ ] Old phones → transferred or sitting in drawer?258- [ ] Camera SD cards → backed up?259- [ ] Facebook/Instagram → downloaded?260- [ ] Cloud services → which ones have photos?261- [ ] External drives → where located?262- [ ] Computer folders → documented?263264### Preservation Actions2652661. **Consolidate** to one primary location2672. **Backup** to secondary location (3-2-1 rule: 3 copies, 2 media types, 1 offsite)2683. **Document** where everything is2694. **Share access** with trusted person now2705. **Label** important folders ("Wedding 2019", "Kids Baby Photos")271272## Annual Review Checklist273274Digital estates change. Review annually:275276- [ ] New accounts added? Document them.277- [ ] Passwords changed? Password manager updated?278- [ ] New devices? Access documented?279- [ ] Trusted contacts still appropriate?280- [ ] Cryptocurrency holdings changed?281- [ ] New subscriptions to add to cancel list?282- [ ] Digital executor still appropriate and informed?283284## Anti-Patterns285286❌ **Storing master password digitally unencrypted**287❌ **Telling no one about the plan**288❌ **Assuming family can "figure it out"**289❌ **Putting seed phrases in cloud storage**290❌ **Not testing the access methods**291❌ **Forgetting about old accounts**292293## Integration with Other Skills294295- **grief-companion**: Emotional support alongside practical planning296- **pet-memorial-creator**: Digital memorials for pets297- **career-biographer**: Preserving professional legacy298- **panic-room-finder**: Finding secure physical storage locations299300## The Gift301302Digital estate planning isn't morbid—it's a gift to those who love you. When they're grieving, they won't have to guess passwords, hunt for accounts, or lose precious photos. You've made the hardest time a little bit easier.303304That's love in practical form.
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