Digital legacy checklist: 8 steps to prepare
A digital legacy plan tells the right people what exists, where to begin and what you want handled. You can make a useful start today without emailing anyone your passwords.
Write down five important accounts, choose one trusted person to speak with, and set up one account provider's own legacy feature. You can refine the plan later.
List the accounts and information that matter
Start with your main email, cloud photos and files, phone account, password manager, domain names, subscriptions, financial accounts and any systems your family or business depends on. Record the service name and why it matters. An inventory is useful even when it contains no passwords.
Choose a trusted person and a backup
Ask whether they are willing to help. Give them a simple overview of your wishes and where your plan can be found. Choose someone who can handle practical tasks calmly, and review their contact details when your circumstances change.
Use each provider's legacy settings
Some services provide their own access process. Apple Legacy Contact lets you name someone to request access to certain Apple Account data after your death; Apple says they need an access key and supporting documentation, and iCloud Keychain passwords are excluded. Google Inactive Account Manager can notify trusted contacts or share selected data after a period of inactivity. Review what each service actually permits before relying on it.
Plan for passwords without sending them around
Keep credentials in a dedicated password manager. If it offers emergency access, decide who may request it, what level of access they receive and how long the waiting period should be. For example, Bitwarden documents an emergency-contact process. Check that the person accepted the invitation and understands the procedure. Avoid putting your master password in an ordinary email or shared document.
Write instructions a person could follow
Explain which documents matter, who to contact first and which tasks are time-sensitive. Use plain language. For a business, include the names of key systems and who can keep them running. For family, include the context behind important photos, messages or records. Store sensitive material only in a place whose security and access rules you understand.
Decide who should receive what
A personal message, family document and business instruction may belong with different people. Make those choices explicit and keep a record of anything that should remain private. Tell each trusted person enough to understand their role without giving everyone access to everything today.
Keep legal and financial arrangements separate
A list of accounts does not transfer ownership or replace a will, local legal requirements or a provider's own rules. If your plan involves valuable assets, an estate, a company or accounts in several countries, ask an appropriately qualified professional how to document the legal side.
Review the plan and test the handoff
Revisit the list at least once a year and whenever you change an email address, device, password manager or trusted person. Confirm that your contacts know where to begin and that access keys or recovery instructions can still be found. A plan that only you can locate is hard for anyone else to use.
Useful official resources
These services are separate from Digital Keep. Their features and requirements can change; check their current instructions when you set up your plan. This guide is general information, not legal advice.
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