When most people think about making a will, they picture the obvious things: property, savings, jewellery, or family heirlooms. But life has changed. A huge part of what we own, use, and value now exists online. From email accounts and cloud-stored photos to cryptocurrency, online businesses, and social media profiles, these are all examples of digital assets. If they are not considered when preparing a will, they can easily be forgotten, lost, or become difficult for loved ones to access after death.
At Dumonts Solicitors, based in Holborn, London, we regularly help clients think about the full picture when planning their estate. That includes the increasingly important question of what happens to digital assets.
What counts as a digital asset?
A digital asset is broadly any asset, account, or piece of information that exists in electronic form and may have either financial value or personal value. Some are obvious, while others are often overlooked.
Examples include:
- Cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin or Ethereum
- Online bank and investment accounts
- PayPal or other digital payment accounts
- Social media profiles such as Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or X
- Email accounts
- Cloud storage containing documents, family photographs, or videos
- Websites, blogs, and domain names
- Online businesses, e-commerce shops, or monetised channels
- Digital music, films, books, or gaming accounts
- Loyalty points, rewards schemes, and online subscriptions
Some of these assets have a clear financial value. Others may not be worth money in the usual sense, but can still carry huge emotional significance. A family may care deeply about recovering photographs stored in the cloud, even if there is no direct monetary value attached to them.
Why should digital assets be included in your will?
Digital assets can create real practical problems if they are not dealt with properly. Family members may know you had accounts, subscriptions, or even online income streams, but have no idea how to find them or access them. In some cases, valuable assets can simply disappear because no one has the necessary login details, recovery information, or knowledge that they existed at all.
Including digital assets in your will helps to:
- make it easier for executors to identify what exists
- reduce the risk of assets being lost or overlooked
- preserve sentimental items such as photographs or messages
- ensure valuable online accounts or businesses are handled properly
- give clear instructions about accounts you would like closed, transferred, or memorialised
Without planning, even something as simple as closing a social media profile or accessing a photo library can become frustrating and time-consuming for those left behind.
Aren’t digital assets legally straightforward?
Not always. This is where many people get caught out. Owning or using a digital platform does not necessarily mean your executor can automatically access it after your death. Many online services have their own terms and conditions about what happens to an account when the account holder dies. Some platforms allow memorialisation or account deletion. Others may restrict access entirely, even to close family members.
This means estate planning for digital assets is not just about listing usernames and passwords in a will. In fact, placing passwords directly into a will is often not advisable, as a will becomes a public document after probate. A better approach is usually to create a separate, secure record of digital assets and access information, while ensuring your will gives appropriate authority and guidance to your executors.
What should you do when planning for digital assets?
A sensible starting point is to create an inventory of your digital life. That means identifying the online accounts, files, and digital holdings you own or control. Once you have done that, think about which assets have financial value, which have sentimental value, and which should simply be closed.
You may wish to consider:
- who should deal with your digital assets
- whether a particular executor has the technical ability to manage them
- where access details are stored securely
- whether any digital business interests need specialist handling
- what you want to happen to personal accounts and data
For example, you may want family photographs preserved and shared, a business website transferred, and personal social media accounts closed. Clear instructions can make a significant difference.
How Dumonts Solicitors can help
Digital assets are now a normal part of modern estate planning, yet they are still often missed when people prepare a will. Taking the time to address them now can save your family unnecessary stress later and help ensure that both your valuable assets and your personal digital legacy are protected.
At Dumonts Solicitors, we provide clear, practical advice on wills, probate, and estate planning for individuals and families across London, and beyond. Whether you are creating a new will or updating an existing one, we can help make sure your estate plan reflects the way people actually live today, both offline and online.
