Digital Assets and Estate Planning in Pennsylvania
- Ashley Sharek
- 3 hours ago
- 7 min read
Estate planning is not only about your house and your bank accounts. Today, a large part of life happens online. Family photos are stored in the cloud. Bills are paid through online portals. Important documents arrive by email. Social media accounts hold memories and connections that matter deeply to your loved ones.
Digital assets are part of your estate, and they should be addressed in a comprehensive Pennsylvania estate plan. When a death or incapacity happens, families often discover that the hardest part is not finding paperwork. The hardest part is getting access to the accounts that hold daily life. Without planning, your loved ones can face delays, lost memories, ongoing bill payments, and strict company policies that make access difficult.
This article explains what digital assets are, why they matter, and how to put a clear plan in place so your family has peace of mind.
What Are Digital Assets?
Digital assets are electronic records, accounts, and files you own, control, or use. Some have financial value. Others have sentimental value. Both can create real problems if no one can access them when needed.
Common digital assets include:
Cloud photo and video storage
Email accounts
Online banking, credit card, and investment portals
Social media accounts
Messaging accounts
Subscriptions and recurring payments
Online shopping accounts
Rewards and loyalty programs
Digital business assets such as websites, domains, and payment processors
Cryptocurrency and digital wallets, if applicable
Devices that control access, such as smartphones and laptops
If it requires a login or password, it should be considered part of your digital asset plan.
Why Digital Assets Matter in Estate Planning
Digital assets matter for two main reasons: emotional value and practical value.
Emotional value
Many families store their entire photo history online. Videos of birthdays, graduations, and family vacations may live in one cloud account. Messages and emails may contain meaningful words that loved ones want to keep. Social media may hold years of photos and memories. If no one can access those accounts, your family could lose irreplaceable pieces of your story.
Practical value
Daily life is managed online. Bank statements may be paperless. Medical portals hold appointment notes and billing details. Bills are paid through online banking. Insurance documents and claims information are often digital. If loved ones cannot access these accounts, they may struggle to manage responsibilities during an already overwhelming time. Digital planning is not only a technology issue. It is a family protection issue.
What Can Go Wrong Without a Digital Asset Plan
Families often assume that access will be simple. Many discover the opposite. Below are some of the most common problems.
Locked out of photos and important documents
A loved one dies and the family needs photos for the memorial service. The photos are in the cloud. The phone is locked. The cloud account sends a verification code to the locked phone. The email account used for password resets is also locked. Even with good intentions, families can get stuck for weeks, or lose access permanently.
Missed bills and financial confusion
Online portals often store automatic payments, recurring subscriptions, and paperless statements. If no one can access the accounts quickly, bills may be missed and services may be interrupted. Late fees and credit problems can follow.
Business disruption
For business owners, digital accounts can be the business. Website hosting, domain registrations, advertising platforms, payment processors, and client communication tools may be essential. If no one can access them, the business can stall overnight, affecting your family’s income and the people who depend on the business.
Identity theft and account misuse
Inactive accounts can be targets. After a death, scammers often attempt to exploit confusion. If your family does not know what accounts exist, they may not secure them quickly, which can create risk.
Family conflict and emotional stress
When no one knows what the deceased person wanted, loved ones can disagree about what should happen to accounts, photos, and messages. Clear planning reduces conflict and protects relationships.
How Digital Assets Fit Into a Pennsylvania Estate Plan
A strong plan addresses two separate needs:
Legal authority for someone to act on your behalf
Practical access so the right person can actually get into accounts and manage them
Both matter. Legal authority often comes from estate planning documents. Practical access usually comes from secure organization and clear instructions.
A comprehensive approach also considers two different situations:
Incapacity planning, when you are alive but cannot manage your affairs
Death planning, when your loved ones must wrap up and manage your affairs after you pass away
Planning for Incapacity: When You Are Alive but Cannot Act
Many people focus only on what happens after death. Incapacity is just as important, and it can happen at any age.
If you are hospitalized or unable to communicate, your family may need to:
Pay bills and manage bank accounts
Access insurance portals
Retrieve documents from email
Coordinate with medical providers and portals
Communicate with employers or clients
Manage household services tied to online accounts
If the right authority and access are not in place, families may face delays and expensive legal steps. A solid plan can reduce the risk of court involvement and give your trusted person the ability to manage life as it happens.
Planning After Death: What Your Loved Ones Need to Do
After death, your loved ones often need to:
Locate and preserve photos and documents
Stop recurring payments and subscriptions
Access financial statements and tax documents
Handle email that contains important notices or account resets
Manage social media accounts according to your wishes
Secure or transfer business accounts if applicable
Planning helps your family avoid guesswork, stress, and lost time.
Digital Asset Checklist for Pennsylvania Families
You do not need to create a perfect system to start. The goal is to create clarity.
Step 1: List your most important accounts
Start with categories, then write the specific account names under each one.
Email accounts
Cloud storage for photos and files
Online banking and investment portals
Credit card portals
Insurance portals
Medical portals
Social media accounts
Messaging platforms
Subscriptions and recurring services
Online shopping accounts with stored payment methods
Business accounts if applicable
Cryptocurrency accounts and wallets if applicable
Step 2: Identify what matters most in an emergency
For many families, the highest priority items are:
Email access
Device access
Online banking access
Cloud photo access
If you do nothing else, prioritize making those items easier to handle.
Step 3: Decide who should handle what
One person may be best with finances. Another may be best with technology. Another may be best suited to handle sentimental items like photos and messages. Your estate plan can name legal decision makers, and your instructions can clarify roles so no one is guessing.
Step 4: Store information securely
Avoid unsafe storage methods. The goal is security and accessibility for the right person at the right time.
Choose a secure method to store:
A list of your accounts
Where key items are stored
How your trusted person should locate access information
Any specific wishes for what should happen to accounts
Update it anytime you change passwords, switch devices, or open new accounts.
Step 5: Review and update your plan regularly
Digital life changes fast. Set a reminder to review your list at least once per year. Also update it after major life events such as marriage, divorce, a move, a new child, or a major change in finances.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Assuming a spouse or adult child can automatically access everything
Even spouses can be locked out due to privacy policies and security measures. Planning matters.
Forgetting that email is often the master key
Email is frequently the gateway to password resets. Without email access, loved ones may not be able to access anything else.
Keeping the plan only in your head
A plan that is not written down and stored securely is rarely available when it matters.
Naming a decision maker without giving guidance
Naming someone is important. Providing clarity and instructions is what reduces stress.
Ignoring business accounts
If your business depends on online tools, plan for continuity. Your family should not have to rebuild access from scratch during a crisis.
Are digital assets part of an estate in Pennsylvania?
Yes. Digital accounts and files can be part of what needs to be managed during incapacity and after death. A comprehensive estate plan should address them.
What digital assets should be included in an estate plan?
Common digital assets include cloud photos, email, online banking access, social media accounts, subscriptions, online business accounts, and cryptocurrency if applicable.
Can my family access my accounts if I die?
Access depends on the platform rules, your planning, and whether your loved ones have legal authority and practical access. Planning ahead makes a major difference.
What if I want privacy for certain accounts?
You can set clear instructions about what should be preserved, shared, or deleted. The key is documenting your wishes and choosing a trusted person.
Is digital asset planning only for older adults?
No. Anyone who uses email, stores photos online, pays bills digitally, or uses social media can benefit from digital asset planning. This includes young parents and busy professionals.
How a Comprehensive Plan Helps Your Family
A comprehensive Pennsylvania estate plan is designed to protect your family with clarity.
When digital assets are addressed, your plan can help:
Reduce confusion during a crisis
Preserve family photos and important files
Prevent missed bills and ongoing charges
Decrease risk of fraud and account misuse
Support smoother administration after death
Protect your loved ones from unnecessary stress
Estate planning is not only about what you leave behind. It is also about what your family can access and manage when it matters most.
Next Steps: Create Peace of Mind for the People You Love
Your digital life is part of your legacy. A thoughtful plan can help your family access what they need, preserve what they cherish, and avoid avoidable headaches during a difficult season.
If you want a comprehensive Pennsylvania estate plan that addresses digital assets alongside the rest of your planning, schedule an intro call here:
