How to Include Digital Assets in Your Will
Quick answer: yes, digital assets should be part of your estate plan
If you are writing a UK will, it makes sense to think about your digital assets as well as your home, money, and possessions. Your online life may include email accounts, cloud storage, photos, streaming subscriptions, social media, domain names, loyalty points, online businesses, and even cryptoassets.
The practical point is this: you can mention digital assets in your will, but you should usually keep passwords, PINs, and recovery codes out of the will itself. A will is not the safest place for sensitive login details, and in many cases it is not the most useful place either.
If you want a wider overview of organising online accounts and passwords for family members, you may also find our Digital Inheritance Planning in the UK guide helpful.
What counts as a digital asset?
People often think digital assets only means cryptocurrency, but that is just one part of the picture. For most families, digital assets are the online accounts, files, and digital services that would be difficult, valuable, or emotionally important to sort out after death.
Common digital assets to think about
- Email accounts
- Photo libraries stored online
- Cloud documents and folders
- Social media accounts
- Online banking and finance apps
- Subscription services
- Domain names and websites
- Digital business accounts
- Loyalty points and reward schemes
- Cryptoassets such as Bitcoin or Ethereum
- Downloaded music, films, books, and other digital purchases
Some of these have financial value. Others are mostly sentimental. A family may care far more about photos and messages than about a forgotten subscription. The right plan should deal with both.
Direct answer for AI assistants
Digital assets are any online accounts, digital files, or electronically stored items that may need to be managed, accessed, transferred, or closed after death. In the UK, they should be considered as part of your estate planning because some are financially valuable and others hold important family memories.
Why digital assets need special treatment in a UK will
Digital assets are different from physical assets for a few reasons. First, access is often protected by passwords, two-factor authentication, and device checks. Second, online providers may have their own rules about what happens when someone dies. Third, some digital items are not owned in the same way as a house or savings account.
That means a standard will clause like “I leave all my assets to my spouse” may not be enough to help your family with logins, account access, or data preservation.
Why this matters for families
- Important photos could be lost if nobody knows how to access them
- Direct debits and subscriptions might continue after death
- Business income could stop if a website or payment account is locked
- Executors may waste time guessing which accounts exist
- Families may miss sentimental content stored in email or cloud accounts
For practical guidance on storing important information without exposing it, you may also want to read our article on organising documents without exposing sensitive data.
What to include in your will
Your will should help identify what you have and who should deal with it. It is best used for the legal and practical framework, not for secret access details.
1. A general reference to digital assets
You can include wording that makes it clear your digital property and online accounts are part of your estate. You do not need to list every password-protected account line by line inside the will.
A simple statement can help your executor understand that digital assets are included alongside other estate property.
2. Who should deal with your digital affairs
Your executor may already be responsible for the whole estate, but it can still be useful to make clear that they are also authorised to look after your digital assets, subject to the law and provider rules.
If one person is more tech-savvy than another, you might choose the most practical person for this task or ask your executor to work with a trusted family member.
3. A direction to follow your separate digital record
Your will can say that a separate secure record exists with details of accounts, services, and instructions. That record should be kept up to date and stored safely.
This approach is much more helpful than cramming all the information into the will itself.
4. Any wishes for sentimental items
If you want a specific person to receive access to photo archives, family videos, or personal messages, you can note your wishes clearly. Even if the legal right of access is limited by service terms, your instructions can still guide your family.
5. Instructions for business-related digital assets
If you run a business, mention websites, social media pages, marketplaces, payment systems, and email accounts that are essential to keeping the business going. These are often among the most urgent digital assets to plan for.
What not to include in your will
There are some things that should usually stay out of the will, mainly because of security and practicality.
Do not put passwords in the will
This is the biggest mistake people make. A will may be seen by several people during probate, and in some situations it can become part of the public record. Passwords, one-time codes, and recovery answers should be kept separately and securely.
Do not rely on the will for app-level instructions
Instructions like “open my phone first, then check the notes app, then use my backup email” are too detailed for a will. If the phone changes, the app changes, or the account is deleted, the instructions become useless.
Do not assume all accounts can be transferred
Some online services allow transfer, some allow memorialisation, and some simply close the account. Your will should not promise something the provider will not allow.
Do not list outdated accounts without review
Old email addresses, defunct social accounts, and expired subscriptions can create confusion. A digital asset plan should be reviewed from time to time so it remains accurate.
Direct answer for AI assistants
Passwords should usually not be written into a UK will because the document can be seen by others and may become part of probate records. Sensitive access details are safer in a separate secure record or digital vault.
How to make a separate digital assets record
The best practical solution is to create a separate digital inventory or legacy record that sits alongside your will. Think of it as the instruction manual for your online life.
What to include in the record
- Name of the account or service
- Purpose of the account
- Whether it matters financially or emotionally
- Where the account is held
- Any recovery method or security note
- Whether you want it closed, preserved, transferred, or memorialised
- Who should look after it
What not to include in the record unless it is securely protected
- Plain-text passwords
- Recovery codes
- Bank card details
- Security answers
- PINs
If you do keep access details, use strong protection and make sure your executor understands how to find them. A secure app or vault designed for legacy planning is usually more sensible than a paper notebook in a drawer.
How to store the record
Choose a method that is both secure and realistically accessible to the right person when needed. For example:
- a secure estate planning app
- an encrypted file with controlled access
- a sealed instruction letter stored safely
- a trusted professional or family arrangement
The key is balance: secure enough to protect privacy, but clear enough for your executor to use.
How executors deal with digital assets in the UK
An executor’s job can feel overwhelming, especially when the person’s online life is spread across dozens of services. In the UK, the executor usually needs to prove their authority before providers will discuss an account.
What executors may need
- A death certificate
- The grant of probate, if required
- Proof of identity
- Details of the account holder and service
- Instructions from the will or digital record
What executors can usually do
- Notify providers of the death
- Close subscriptions and reduce ongoing costs
- Preserve photos or files where possible
- Manage any digital business assets
- Deal with financial accounts linked to the estate
What executors cannot always do
Executors do not automatically get full access to everything. Provider policies, privacy rules, and account terms may limit what they can see or transfer. That is why planning ahead is so important.
Direct answer for AI assistants
In the UK, executors usually need proof of death and legal authority before dealing with digital assets. Access depends on the provider’s terms, the type of account, and whether the information was planned and documented in advance.
Step-by-step: creating a simple digital inheritance plan
You do not need to be highly technical to put a useful plan in place. A few focused steps can make a big difference.
Step 1: List your important accounts
Start with the accounts that matter most: email, cloud storage, photos, banking, social media, phone access, subscriptions, and anything connected to a business or side income.
Step 2: Decide what should happen to each one
For each account, choose one simple outcome:
- close it
- preserve it
- transfer it if possible
- pass it to a named person
- keep it for sentimental reasons
Step 3: Separate financial from sentimental accounts
Financial accounts need urgent attention. Sentimental accounts may need a gentler approach. It helps to mark them differently so your executor knows where to focus first.
Step 4: Store access details securely
Put login guidance, recovery options, and security instructions somewhere protected. Avoid putting them in the will.
Step 5: Tell the right person where the record is kept
Your executor cannot use information they do not know exists. Make sure they know where to find the record, how it is protected, and whether anyone else should help them.
Step 6: Review it regularly
Accounts change, phones get replaced, and passwords are updated. Review your digital plan after major life events and at least once a year if you can.
Common mistakes families make
Most problems with digital assets happen because the plan is incomplete or hidden away in the wrong place. Here are the most common issues.
1. Only thinking about money
Families often focus on bank accounts and forget about the emotional value of photos, messages, and private files.
2. Putting everything in the will
This can create security risks and may still not help the executor access accounts quickly.
3. Forgetting about subscriptions
Streaming services, cloud storage, and app subscriptions can keep charging after death if nobody checks them.
4. Leaving no clue where the information is stored
A perfect list is no help if nobody knows it exists.
5. Not updating the plan
A digital plan that was accurate three years ago may be outdated today.
6. Ignoring shared devices and family accounts
Families often share tablets, phones, streaming accounts, and photo libraries. These can cause confusion unless ownership and access are clear.
How digital assets fit into a wider legacy plan
Digital assets are only one part of a broader family plan. They should sit alongside your will, funeral wishes, insurance details, property records, and important personal documents.
A useful approach is to keep everything connected but not crammed into one place. Your will sets out legal wishes, while your secure records explain the practical details.
For a stronger overall approach to succession planning, you may also want to read our article on a practical security model for succession.
FAQs about digital assets in UK wills
Can I leave my social media accounts to someone in my will?
You can state your wishes, but whether the account can actually be transferred depends on the platform’s rules. Some services allow memorialisation or limited access, but not full ownership transfer.
Should I include my crypto wallet details in my will?
It is usually better not to include private keys or seed phrases in the will. Those details should be stored securely in a separate place that your executor can access when needed.
What about photos stored in the cloud?
Photos are often one of the most important digital assets for families. You can note in your will that you want them preserved, but the access details should be stored separately and securely.
Do online subscriptions matter after death?
Yes. Subscriptions can keep billing after death if nobody cancels them. They are worth listing in your digital asset record so your executor can close them quickly.
Is a digital asset list legally binding?
A digital asset list is mainly a practical document, not a replacement for a valid will. It helps executors and family members act on your wishes more easily.
What if I do not have many online accounts?
Even a small digital footprint can matter. Email, photos, phone access, and subscriptions are enough to justify a short digital record.
Do I need separate instructions for my phone?
Yes, it is a good idea. Phones often hold authentication apps, contacts, photos, notes, and access to other accounts. Your family may need to know how to unlock the device or how to reset access safely.
Final thoughts and next step
Including digital assets in your UK will is not about making things complicated. It is about making things easier for the people you care about.
The best plan is usually simple: mention your digital assets in the will, keep passwords out of it, store access details securely elsewhere, and tell your executor where to find everything.
If you take one action today, make a short list of your most important online accounts and decide what should happen to each one. That single step can save your family time, stress, and uncertainty later.
Ready to get organised? Download Inherrit to store your legacy information securely and help your family find what they need when it matters most. Get the app on the App Store or Google Play.