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Glossary
Digital Assets
Digital assets are the files, accounts, records, subscriptions, and online property that have financial, practical, or emotional value.
Definition
Digital assets include online accounts, cloud files, photos, videos, message archives, subscription histories, domains, online income tools, and any other digital property that matters to you or your family.
Why It Matters
Some digital assets are sentimental, such as family photos or saved messages. Others are operational, such as email records, banking access, business tools, or cloud files needed for the estate.
If families do not know what exists, they may close an account before preserving the records or memories stored inside it.
Common Mistakes
- Thinking only about crypto or online businesses and forgetting photos, subscriptions, devices, and email.
- Deleting accounts before exporting files or confirming what is stored there.
- Keeping no record of where financially valuable or irreplaceable files are held.
Safe Best Practices
- List both emotional and financial digital assets in the same planning process.
- Mark what should be preserved first, what can be deleted, and what may require legal review.
- Include where important files live, who should receive them, and which accounts control access to them.
Related Terms
Digital Estate Plan
A digital estate plan is a set of instructions that explains what accounts you have, what should happen to them, and how trusted people should act if you die or become unable to manage them.
Passkey
A passkey is a modern sign-in method tied to a device, browser, or password manager, often replacing or reducing the need for a traditional password.
Two-Factor Authentication
Two-factor authentication adds a second proof step after the password, often through a text message, authenticator app, hardware key, or approval on another device.
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How to Create a Digital Estate Plan
Step-by-step guidance for documenting accounts, preserving digital assets, naming trusted contacts, and giving loved ones clear instructions.
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How to Close or Transfer a Deceased Person's Email Account
What families should expect when dealing with Gmail, Outlook, and Yahoo after a death, including documentation, likely outcomes, and connected services.