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As the digital environment continues to expand, blending into and overriding nearly every aspect of life, the importance of understanding and securing digital assets cannot be overlooked. From banking statements to social media accounts, cloud storage photos to cryptocurrency wallets – almost everyone now owns some form of digital assets. However, unlike their tangible counterparts, digital assets often get missed out when planning for estate distribution.

Integrating digital assets into your estate plan ensures comprehensive asset protection, extends your legacy, and prevents potentially complicated legal issues for your heirs. This article will guide you through everything you need to know on how to protect your digital assets in your estate plan.

Why is Protecting Your Digital Assets Crucial?

Digital assets carry both tangible and intangible value. Tangible values can be financial, such as digital banking accounts, online crowdfunding platforms, e-commerce store revenues, digital wallets, credit card rewards, and even domain names. Intangible value carried by these assets can be sentimental or significant in other ways. These include emails, social media accounts, digital photos, videos, and blogs.

Moreover, some digital assets also carry intellectual rights, such as websites, blogs, digital artworks, or any other digital content that can be copyrighted, trademarked, or patented. The failure to appropriately secure and bequeath these assets can create chaos and upset among your loved ones, beyond the emotional turmoil that they must already be experiencing.

How to Identify Your Digital Assets?

Start your digital estate planning by identifying your digital assets. Begin with creating a comprehensive digital asset list. It should include:

1. Hardware: All the physical devices used to access digital information – computers, laptops, smartphones, tablets, external hard drives, flash drives.

2. Online Financial Accounts: Banking accounts, PayPal, investment accounts, cryptocurrency wallets, credit card rewards, crowd-funding accounts.

3. Social Media and Email Accounts: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Gmail, Yahoo.

4. Online Businesses: E-commerce stores, blogs, content channels.

5. Virtual Items: E-books, digital music, digital movies, online gaming accounts, avatars.

6. Website domains and Blogs: Personal websites, blog spaces

7. Cloud Storage Accounts: Google Drive, Dropbox, Flickr.

8. Loyalty and Reward Programs: Frequent flyer miles, hotel rewards, credit card points.

Ensure that your list is exhaustive to effectively manage your digital inheritance.

Safeguard Your Digital Assets

Once your digital asset list is ready, the next step involves securing them effectively.

1. Record Access Information: Document the access information for each digital asset – user IDs, passwords, PIN numbers, answers to security questions, etc.

2. Use Password Managers: Consider using a digital password manager for password complexity and strength. Ensure that your executor knows how to access it.

3. Store Access Information Safely: Access information is extremely sensitive data. It is vital to store this info in safe locations such as encrypted drives, safety checkbooks, or secure digital wallets.

The best practices for protecting digital assets require constant updates and revisions. Therefore, make sure to undergo periodic reviews and updates of your digital data alongside your estate plan.