Many families do not realize how much of life now exists online until they struggle to access a loved one’s accounts after death.
At Casey Lundregan Burns, P.C., we help families plan for digital assets like online banking, email, social media, and cloud photo storage so both financial and sentimental property remains protected.
What Counts as a Digital Asset?
Digital assets include far more than social media accounts. Almost every person has a digital footprint that touches multiple areas of daily life, often without realizing how much information and value is stored online. Some accounts hold financial value, while others carry emotional importance for surviving family members who may want to preserve photographs, messages, or personal records.
Common digital assets include:
- Online banking and payment applications
- Cryptocurrency wallets and investment platforms
- Digital business accounts and online storefronts
- Email accounts such as Gmail or Outlook
- Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedInCloud based photo and video storage
- Blogs, websites, and subscription servicesMany people are surprised to learn how much of their personal and financial life now exists almost entirely online. If these accounts are not accounted for in an estate plan, family members may not even know they exist.
Why Passwords and Access Planning Matter
Many people assume that family members can automatically gain access to online accounts after death. Unfortunately, technology companies often maintain strict privacy policies, and they may refuse to provide access without proper legal authority. This can leave families dealing with unnecessary stress while trying to manage estate matters and grieving the loss of a loved one.
Without a plan in place, families commonly face problems such as:
- Locked phones and inaccessible email accounts
- Lost family photographs and personal records
- Hidden online financial accounts no one knew existed
- Delays handling estate matters and paying bills
- Legal disputes involving access requests
In some situations, families spend months trying to recover accounts or locate digital assets that could have been identified much earlier with proper planning. Something as simple as a forgotten password can quickly become a major obstacle.
How Massachusetts Law Treats Digital Property
Massachusetts law recognizes that digital assets are now an important part of modern estate planning. Individuals can authorize a trusted person to manage certain digital accounts after death or incapacity, but that authority should be stated clearly in estate planning documents. Simply naming someone as Executor may not always give enough authority to bypass a company’s privacy policies or account restrictions.
Because digital property laws and company policies can be complicated, it is important for estate plans to address these issues directly. Reviewing digital assets as part of a broader estate plan can help reduce delays, confusion, and disputes later on.
Including Digital Assets in Your Estate Plan
Digital assets should be reviewed just like any other important property or financial account. Topics worth reviewing include maintaining an updated inventory of digital accounts, storing passwords securely, reviewing legacy contact settings on online platforms, and updating estate planning documents so they properly address digital property rights.
These conversations may feel easy to postpone, but planning ahead can spare loved ones from major complications later. A complete estate plan should account for both physical and digital property so families are not left trying to piece together important information on their own.
Protect Every Part of Your Legacy
Your digital life is part of your story. It contains financial information, personal communication, family memories, and records that may matter deeply to the people you leave behind. Failing to account for those assets can create confusion, delay, and emotional strain for loved ones during an already difficult time.
At Casey Lundregan Burns, P.C., we help Massachusetts families create estate plans that protect both physical and digital property. If you have questions about digital assets or want to update your estate planning documents, reach out to Casey Lundregan Burns, P.C. at (978) 788-9934 or Contact Us Online to schedule a consultation.