7 important tips to avoid your legacy becoming a mystery

If you want your loved ones not to be left in the dark if something happens to you, having a will is no longer enough today. This is mainly because everything around us has become digital, which has increased the complexity of estates. What is better to arrange today rather than tomorrow? These 7 tips will help you:

Tip 1: create a complete overview of all your digital accounts and services

There may be many of them, so you could choose to organize them in alphabetical order. Think for example of subscriptions, bank details, cloud services, cryptocurrencies, domain names, email accounts, games, social media, streaming services and webshops. Also note what you want to happen to them if something happens to you. This prevents your loved ones from facing unexpected surprises and allows you to stay in control of your digital life, even when you are no longer there.

Tip 2: make sure at least one person can access all your passwords

Most of the digital accounts and services mentioned in tip 1 require login credentials, often also with multi factor authentication, MFA. Check all required login procedures and passwords, store them in a secure environment and assign them to trusted people who may gain access during your lifetime or after your death.

Tip 3: think about whether you want to continue existing digitally and discuss it

If you do not give anyone the possibility to manage this for you, there is a chance that you will continue to exist online on platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, Instagram or LinkedIn, even though you are no longer there. For your loved ones it can be reassuring to know what your wishes are. Do you want your accounts to be completely deleted, or would you prefer a memorial page or message to remain? Clearly indicate who may carry this out and how you want your digital presence to be handled.

Tip 4: review your digital assets (again)

In tip 1 you already created an overview of your accounts, but some digital assets deserve extra attention. Today value can exist in many places, in cryptocurrencies, online games, balances at webshops, digital gift cards or even platforms where you generate income. The risk is that your loved ones may not even know these assets exist. Make sure access and instructions are clear, so they do not discover them only when it is too late, or never know they existed at all.

Tip 5: record your personal wishes

Digitally stored notes about funeral wishes, medical wishes, videos or personal messages can be included in your legacy plan. A personal wish could also be to include charities in your estate. These personal wishes matter, because there is only one moment when you leave the world.

Tip 6: think about trusted persons and the role they can play

When settling your digital legacy, not only your husband, wife or life partner may play a role. It can be wise to appoint other trusted people as well. Think of close friends, family members or people in your circle whom you trust with certain information or responsibilities.

It can also make sense to involve a professional, such as your financial advisor, notary, accountant or wealth planner. By thinking in advance about who may do what, for example gaining access to certain accounts or carrying out your digital wishes, you avoid confusion and make it much easier for your loved ones to handle everything properly.

Tip 7: keep your legacy alive

This final tip is meant to encourage you to review your legacy at least once or twice a year. Life changes, and so does your digital legacy. For anyone who tends to avoid the subject of legacy, it helps to realize that your loved ones will already appreciate it during your lifetime. You have taken care of it!

Would you like a practical tool to do this in a simple, clear and secure way?

With Life After Me you can safely collect all your accounts, documents and wishes and share them with trusted people, and you can also appoint Expert Advisors who are able to upload documents as well. You can grant them access, during your lifetime or after your death, to everything needed to make sure your legacy is not a mystery. Our tip 8? Make use of a free trial account.