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    Essential Skills
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    2 min read 6 stepsApril 2, 2026Verified April 2026

    Digital Estate Planning: What Happens to Your Online Accounts

    Plan what happens to your email, social media, and digital assets when you can no longer manage them.

    In this guide (6 steps):

    1. 1.Why digital estate planning matters
    2. 2.Create a digital inventory
    3. 3.Set up Legacy Contact (Apple)
    4. 4.Set up Inactive Account Manager (Google)
    5. 5.Facebook memorialization
    6. 6.Tell someone your plan
    1

    Why digital estate planning matters

    ~15s
    You may have email, social media, banking, subscriptions, photos, and digital purchases. If something happens to you, your family needs to know how to access or close these accounts.
    2

    Create a digital inventory

    ~15s
    List all your online accounts: email, banking, social media, subscriptions, cloud storage. Include the email address used for each. Store this securely — not in a text file on your desktop.
    3

    Set up Legacy Contact (Apple)

    ~15s
    Settings > [Your Name] > Sign-In & Security > Legacy Contact. This person can access your Apple data after you pass away, with a death certificate.
    4

    Set up Inactive Account Manager (Google)

    ~15s
    Go to myaccount.google.com > Data & Privacy > Make a plan for your digital legacy. Choose what happens to your Google data after a period of inactivity.
    5

    Facebook memorialization

    ~15s
    In Facebook Settings > Memorialization Settings, choose a Legacy Contact who can manage your profile after you pass. They can pin a tribute post and respond to friend requests.
    6

    Tell someone your plan

    ~15s
    Let a trusted family member know your plan exists and where to find your digital inventory. Consider including digital account info in your will or giving it to your estate attorney.

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    Official Resources

    GCFGlobal — Free Digital SkillsAARP Technology TipsSenior Planet

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    Digital Estate Planning: What Happens to Your Online Accounts — Step-by-Step Guide | TekSure