When someone dies or becomes incapacitated, family members often confront a bewildering array of online accounts, encrypted devices, and digital assets with no clear path to access or disposition. Consumer Reports urges households to treat digital property the same way they treat financial and legal affairs, recommending concrete planning to avoid emotional and logistical complications for loved ones.

The first step is inventory. Families should compile a comprehensive list of accounts and devices—email, cloud storage, social media, photo libraries, online banking, investment platforms, streaming services, domain names, and any cryptocurrencies. Consumer Reports emphasizes including information about where passwords are stored, whether two-factor authentication is enabled, and where devices containing private keys or encrypted backups can be found. That inventory should be updated regularly and kept in a secure, accessible place.

Assigning responsibility matters. In addition to naming an executor in a will, the report advises designating a digital executor or fiduciary who understands technology and has legal authority to act. That authority should be explicit in estate documents; routine wills or powers of attorney that do not address digital assets can leave executors unable to comply with providers’ privacy rules and terms of service. Families should consult legal counsel to incorporate digital-asset clauses and durable powers of attorney that cover online access and management.

Managing access securely is essential. Consumer Reports warns against sharing passwords in unencrypted notes or emails. Instead, it recommends using a reputable password manager that offers emergency or legacy access features, and documenting how to grant that access. For particularly sensitive or irreplaceable items—such as photo archives or private keys for cryptocurrency—maintaining encrypted backups in multiple locations and providing instructions for decryption to the trusted executor can be lifesaving.

Practical legal and technical realities also require attention. Many technology companies have specific policies governing post-mortem account access, and state laws such as the Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act have modified but not eliminated hurdles. Some services support “legacy contacts” or memorialization, while others strictly prohibit account transfer. Consumer Reports recommends reviewing terms of service periodically and updating beneficiary designations where platforms allow them.

Beyond logistics, planning raises ethical and privacy questions. Families must balance the surviving loved ones’ need to retrieve photographs and financial records with the deceased’s expectation of privacy. Clear instructions—whether to preserve, delete, or memorialize accounts—help resolve these tensions and reduce disputes. Consumer Reports also underscores disparities in digital literacy: those with fewer technological skills are at greater risk of losing access to important assets, suggesting a public-policy need for broader education and accessible tools.

As more life events, relationships, and wealth move online, digital estate planning is no longer optional. By inventorying assets, establishing legal authority, choosing secure mechanisms for access, and communicating intentions clearly, families can spare themselves avoidable stress and ensure that digital legacies are handled with respect and security.