A digital inheritance plan is a handoff map
It explains what exists, who should handle it, and how access should happen later.
It should not expose every sensitive detail immediately.
Step 1: List what matters
Start with:
- primary email and phone recovery
- password manager or password notes
- banking and insurance portals
- cloud storage and important documents
- crypto or investment accounts
- final instructions
Step 2: Group information into collections
Collections help you avoid giving every trusted person the same access.
Examples:
- Immediate essentials
- Banking and bills
- Legal documents
- Crypto instructions
- Family photos and messages
Step 3: Choose trusted contacts
Pick people by role, not just relationship.
A trusted contact should be reliable, reachable, and able to handle the type of information they may receive.
Step 4: Write plain-language instructions
For each important record, explain:
- what it is
- why it matters
- who should use it
- what should happen next
Step 5: Review it periodically
A plan can become stale as accounts, passwords, and family roles change.
Set a review cadence and update the plan when major accounts change.
