What Happens to Your Digital Assets When You Die?

In today’s world, most of us live part of our lives online. From social media and online banking to digital photo albums, email accounts, and even cryptocurrency - our digital footprint can be vast.

But have you ever stopped to think about what happens to those assets when you die?

At Newlife Wills, we help families across Kent plan not only for their homes, savings and possessions, but also for the growing value of their digital estate.

What Are “Digital Assets”?

Digital assets include anything of value or significance that exists online or is stored electronically.Examples include:

• Social media accounts – Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, X (Twitter)

• Online banking, PayPal and investment platforms

• Email accounts and cloud storage (Google Drive, iCloud, Dropbox)

• Digital purchases like music, films, and ebooks

• Cryptocurrency and online wallets

• Personal photos, videos, and family archives

• Websites, blogs, and online businesses

• 
  

Many of these hold financial or emotional value, yet very few people include them in their Will.

The Problem: Digital Assets Are Often Locked Away

Without clear instructions, your loved ones could struggle to access your online accounts. Platforms such as Facebook and Google have strict privacy rules, and even if your family knows your passwords, they may legally be unable to log in.

In some cases, accounts are deleted after inactivity. In others, they remain online indefinitely - causing distress to relatives and potential financial loss.

How to Protect Your Digital Assets

1. Create a Digital Asset Inventory - Make a secure list of all your online accounts and assets, noting where they are held and what they’re worth. Don’t include passwords in your Will, instead, store them safely (for example, with a password manager or your Will writer).

   
   

2. Appoint a Digital Executor - This is someone you trust to manage or close your online accounts according to your wishes. It could be the same person as your main Executor, or someone more tech-savvy.

   
   

3. Include Digital Instructions in Your Will - You can specify what should happen to your accounts, for example, memorialising a Facebook page, closing online subscriptions, or transferring business domains.

   
   

4. Keep It Updated - Our digital lives change constantly. That’s why Newlife Wills offers free annual reviews, so you can easily update your instructions if you add new platforms or investments.

Why It Matters

Imagine years of family photos lost in the cloud, or an online business frozen because no one can log in. Including your digital assets in your estate plan ensures your family can access what’s important, avoid disputes, and preserve precious memories.

Secure Your Digital Legacy with Newlife Wills

At Newlife Wills, we make modern Will-writing simple and secure. We’ll help you identify your digital assets, include them in your Will, and ensure your Executors have the right authority to manage them.

📍 Serving families across Thanet, Canterbury, Ramsgate, Broadstairs and Margate, we combine professional expertise with a personal, friendly service.

🖤 Protect your online life — just as carefully as your home and savings.