CSA Online Step 1: Create a “Digital Will” A digital will is simply a list of all of the information about you that might be online – email accounts, social media profiles, cloud storage services, subscriptions, and so on. For each one, make a quick note regarding how you’d like to deal with it – i.e. delete it, pass it on or memorialize it in some way (more about that later). Keep that list with your will so that your heirs won’t have to guess about what to do when you pass. Step 2: Collect your passwords Most of our online accounts need a password to access; without these, your heirs will find it almost impossible to download, save, edit or delete anything. Use a password manager app to create a secure “vault” to hold your login info, or do it the old-fashioned way – write them down on a slip of paper and keep it in a home safe or safety deposit box. Include a note with your will letting your heirs know where those passwords are, so that they don’t have to root around and try to find them after you’re gone. Step 3: Pay special attention to subscriptions Many of our online interactions charge money for their services – money that will continue to come out of your estate’s bank account until someone stops it. Take the time to list the login info for all of your streaming services, online shopping accounts and subscriptions. It’ll be one of the first things that your executor will need to deal with once you’re gone. Making it easy for them will save a lot of hassles and, potentially, a lot of money. Step 4: Back up the important stuff Chances are that a lot of your digital remains are things which you don’t want to delete at all: family photos, travel videos, messages and voicemails from people important to you, and other personal documents. Make sure that you’ve made copies of these essentials – either in a secure cloud storage account or on an external hard drive, so that they won’t be accidentally erased when dealing with your other digital remains. Step 5: Clean up the junk If you’re like most people, you probably have some old social media pages, subscriptions and other online “presence” that you don’t care about anymore. Think of this digital junk in the same way as you think of all that stuff collecting dust in the attic or the garage – get rid of it before the pile gets too high. Go through your online accounts, delete anything that’s out of date and unsubscribe from services which you no longer use. You’ll make life easier for your heirs and reduce the possibility of the bad guys using old personal info for their cons. Step 6: Decide what happens to social profiles Finally, you’ll want to deal with the profiles, posts, photos and other information included on the various social media platforms that you use. These days, most major platforms let you decide what should happen to your profile when you die. Here’s a rundown: Facebook – allows you to name a “Legacy Contact” authorized to manage a memorial profile or delete your profile entirely. Instagram – your profile can be memorialized by someone with proof of your death. Google – has an “Inactive Account Manager” which lets you share access or set up account deletion after a period of inactivity. Apple – allows you to add a “Legacy Contact” who can access and manage any documents and photos stored on iCloud. X (formerly Twitter) – doesn’t have a legacy option yet – someone will have to make a formal request to remove your profile and posts. Some people want their profiles preserved, to create a sort of memorial page that could last for years. Others prefer to keep things clean and simple, and opt for deletion. Whatever you choose, make sure that your heirs understand your wishes. Ultimately, dealing with your digital remains is the same as handling the rest of your estate – a little planning in the here-and-now can make a great difference to your family and friends in the long run. By saving them time and effort, and helping them avoid stress and confusion (and, potentially, fraud!), you give them peace of mind. That’s a great legacy to leave behind – online or offline. CSANews | FALL 2025 | 49
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