Digital Asset Estate Planning Guidelines

Most of us have an online life that is as busy and active as our real life! Digital property or assets are any electronic files, programs or records that you own or that you control. As recently as 20 years ago, digital assets likely wouldn't be considered in a conversation about estate planning. Most states, including Georgia, have passed laws that give a person's family the right to access and manage their digital assets after they die under the Uniform Law Commission Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act (2015). 

Today, you have likely acquired valuable or confidential digital information and assets that you want to be protected after you are gone. It's important to document your digital asset inventory so that your estate executor or heirs know how to manage them after your death. Without an inventory of all your online assets and access to them, your valuable assets could go unclaimed - or fall into the control of hackers. 

5 Steps to Take Control Of  Your Digital Assets  

1. Make A List of All Your Digital Assets

You’ve most likely closed some accounts and opened new accounts. Write down the URL, login info and password for all your accounts and devices. You probably have a long list of personal and business digital assets that include:

• Email accounts

• Apps and services 

• Medical record portals 

• Social media accounts

• Computers, laptops, tablets and smartphones 

• E-readers, cameras and flash drives 

• Subscriptions and memberships 

• Online shopping accounts 

• Chatrooms 

• Cloud file storage of documents or photos 

• Music, video, or radio streaming accounts 

• Cyber currency

• Gaming accounts

• Dating sites

• eBooks, art, photography and documents you hold the copyright to 

• Websites, blogs and domain names

• Intellectual property, trademarks

• Software and digital tools 

• Digital business, client lists, email subscriber lists 

2. Update Your Passwords
Passwords that are too easy to guess or are used on multiple accounts are easy to hack. 

• Update your passwords so that you have unique passwords on sensitive accounts such as finances and medical records. 

• Make a list of all your account passwords. Install – and use! - a password security and management tool.

3. Make a BackUp
Make a backup of your important online data, records, photos – anything that’s important to you, is valuable or sensitive and is stored digitally. 

4. Unsubscribe

If your Inbox is cluttered with email subscriptions you no longer bother to open, unsubscribe from subscriptions, newsletters, email alerts, and updates you no longer need or read. 

5. Clean Up Your Social Media Accounts

Review the privacy and security settings on your personal and business social media accounts. 

• Delete any posts you do not want to be found after your death.

• Designate a legacy contact if you want your social media account to offer a memorial page after your death. 

Designate a Digital Asset Executor 

Choose a digital asset executor to manage your digital estate after your death. Include your digital asset executor in your will so that your executor knows that your digital estate is being taken care of, and by whom. Digital estate plans are not formally recognized in Georgia, but if you name your executor in your will, your estate planning attorney can help you create language to ensure your 

SmithTaire Legal Estate Planning Services  

Failure to include your digital assets in your estate plan can cause your heirs stress, aggravation and even financial losses. When you create a plan for the management of your online data and accounts, 

If you need help planning your digital estate, assets please contact your trusted legal partner, the team at SmithTaire Legal. Our virtual office is open and we can help you via telephone, email, FaceTime, Zoom, DocuSign and tools. Schedule an appointment with us today at 678-253-8133 to discuss your situation.