A comprehensive checklist of everything your family needs access to if something happens to you. Use this as a reference when organizing your digital estate.
Why This Matters
When someone dies or becomes incapacitated, their family often faces an overwhelming task: identifying and accessing dozens of digital accounts, each with different recovery procedures. Without preparation, this process can take months and require legal intervention.
Key facts
The average person has 100+ online accounts
Most platforms have no standardized process for family access
Digital assets can include photos, money, property, and business assets worth significant value
Without preparation, families may permanently lose access to irreplaceable memories
Financial Accounts
Document all accounts that hold money or financial value.
Bank accounts (checking, savings)
Investment accounts (brokerage, mutual funds)
Retirement accounts (401k, IRA, pension)
Health savings accounts (HSA, FSA)
Credit cards (list all, including store cards)
Loans (mortgage, auto, student, personal)
PayPal, Venmo, Cash App, Zelle
Foreign bank accounts
Safe deposit box location and key
For each account: institution name, account type, approximate value, how to access, and beneficiary designations if applicable.
Email Accounts
Email is often the master key to other accounts. Recovery emails and password resets flow through these.
Email access is critical—most account recovery flows through email. Document the email hierarchy: which account can recover which others.
Social Media Accounts
Social accounts may contain irreplaceable memories, messages, and connections.
Facebook (consider Legacy Contact setting)
Instagram
Twitter/X
LinkedIn
TikTok
YouTube channel
Reddit
Other platforms (Pinterest, Snapchat, etc.)
Many platforms have memorialization or legacy settings. Consider enabling these in advance. Document any accounts with monetary value (monetized channels, creator funds).
Cloud Storage & Photos
Where your digital memories and files are stored.
Google Drive / Google Photos
iCloud (photos, documents, backups)
Dropbox
OneDrive
Amazon Photos
Other cloud storage services
Photo printing services with stored photos
Video storage (Vimeo, etc.)
Photos and videos are often the most emotionally valuable digital assets. Ensure family can access before automatic account deletion occurs.
Subscriptions & Services
Recurring payments that should be cancelled, and services that may contain valuable content.
Streaming (Netflix, Spotify, Disney+, etc.)
Software subscriptions (Adobe, Microsoft 365, etc.)
News and media subscriptions
Gaming services (PlayStation Plus, Xbox Game Pass)
Cloud services (web hosting, domains)
Membership services (Amazon Prime, Costco)
Meal/delivery services
Fitness apps and services
List the payment method for each to help family identify and cancel charges. Note any that contain purchases (iTunes library, Kindle books) that may transfer.
Devices & Hardware
Physical devices that may contain data or require access codes.
Phone PIN/passcode
Tablet PIN/passcode
Computer login password
Smart home hub access
WiFi network password
Security system code
Safe combination
External hard drives (location and encryption)
NAS or home server access
Device access is often required to access accounts with two-factor authentication. Document biometric backups and recovery codes.
Cryptocurrency & Digital Assets
Crypto assets require special handling—without keys, they're permanently lost.
Exchange accounts (Coinbase, Kraken, etc.)
Hardware wallet location and PIN
Seed phrase / recovery phrase (stored securely)
Software wallets
NFT holdings
DeFi positions
Staking arrangements
CRITICAL: Seed phrases must be stored securely but accessibly. Without them, crypto assets are permanently unrecoverable. Consider a crypto-specific estate plan.
Business & Professional
Accounts related to work, side businesses, or professional presence.
Business bank accounts
Business email and domains
E-commerce accounts (Shopify, Etsy, eBay)
Professional licenses and accounts
Freelance platform accounts (Upwork, Fiverr)
Affiliate and advertising accounts
Business software and tools
Client/customer information (ensure proper handoff)
If you own a business or have active client relationships, document succession plans and who should handle client communications.
Legal Documents
Essential legal documents your family needs to locate.
Will (location and attorney contact)
Trust documents
Power of attorney (financial)
Healthcare proxy / medical power of attorney
Living will / advance directive
Life insurance policies
Property deeds and titles
Vehicle titles
Birth certificate, passport, Social Security card
Marriage/divorce documents
Ensure your executor knows where originals are stored. Many institutions require original documents, not copies.
Instructions for Family
Beyond access, your family needs to know what you want.
What to do with social media (memorialize, delete, or maintain)
Which photos/content to preserve vs. delete
How to handle email (auto-replies, preservation)
Wishes for digital legacy (publicly shared content)
Contacts to notify
Ongoing subscriptions to maintain vs. cancel
Charitable donations or causes to support
Messages or letters for loved ones
Your family will make dozens of decisions. Clear instructions reduce their burden during an already difficult time.
How to Organize This Information
There are several approaches to organizing your digital legacy. Each has trade-offs between security and accessibility:
Password Manager + Shared Access
Pros
+ Accounts stay current
+ Encrypted storage
+ Can share with trusted family
Cons
− Requires technical setup
− Family needs to know how to use it
− Doesn't include instructions
Physical Document in Safe
Pros
+ Simple to create
+ No technical knowledge required
+ Tangible and findable
Cons
− Gets outdated quickly
− Can be lost or destroyed
− All-or-nothing access
Household Management + Legacy (EstateHelm)
Pros
+ Organize your whole life, not just legacy
+ Zero-knowledge encryption (we can't see your data)
+ Continuity Capsule works offline forever
Cons
− Monthly/annual cost
− Need to actually use it
The best approach: use a password manager for daily autofill, use EstateHelm for the complete picture (properties, vehicles, pets, documents, passwords, instructions), and keep a basic paper note with how to access EstateHelm.
EstateHelm: Your Household's Brain
EstateHelm isn't just a “digital legacy service”—it's where you organize your entire household. Properties, vehicles, pets, documents, subscriptions, passwords, maintenance history. The legacy part happens automatically: everything you track is available to your beneficiaries when they need it.
Everything in one place—passwords, properties, vehicles, pets, documents, subscriptions, contacts
Zero-knowledge encryption—we never see your data, only you and your beneficiaries can
Continuity Protocol—automatic release to beneficiaries after inactivity, with granular permissions
Continuity Capsule—offline backup that works forever, even if EstateHelm disappears
Social Media Accounts
Social accounts may contain irreplaceable memories, messages, and connections.
Many platforms have memorialization or legacy settings. Consider enabling these in advance. Document any accounts with monetary value (monetized channels, creator funds).