Think about your online life: email, Facebook, Instagram, cloud storage, bank accounts, crypto wallets. Now imagine your loved ones trying to access those accounts after you’re gone. Could they log in? Would they even know where to start?
Digital assets often die with their owner—not because heirs don’t want them, but because they can’t access them.
Why Passwords Matter in Estate Planning
A password protects your accounts during your lifetime, but it can become a roadblock when you pass away. Many families face heartbreak when they can’t recover precious photos or lose money tied up in online accounts.
The solution? A secure but shareable system.
Smart Tools for Managing Access
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Password managers (like LastPass or 1Password) let you securely store all your logins. You can designate trusted people to access the vault if something happens to you.
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Digital vaults store not only logins but also instructions, documents, and even digital keys for cryptocurrency.
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Secure backups ensure that accounts aren’t lost if one device fails.
Balancing Privacy with Planning
Many people hesitate to share passwords while they’re alive—and understandably so. That’s why estate planning documents are so important. In Illinois, you can legally give a trusted person access to digital assets while still maintaining your privacy until it’s necessary.
Legal Steps in Illinois
With the Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act (RUFADAA), you can authorize your trustee, executor, or agent under a power of attorney to manage your digital assets. Without these provisions, even your spouse or children may be locked out.
How to Start Securing Your Digital Assets
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Create a digital asset inventory.
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Use a password manager or encrypted vault.
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Add digital asset provisions to your will, trust, or power of attorney.
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Review regularly as your accounts and technology change.
Give Your Family Peace of Mind
Planning for digital assets is about more than passwords—it’s about giving your loved ones access, clarity, and peace of mind.
👉 Ready to secure your digital world? Schedule a consultation with our Libertyville estate planning attorney today.
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This article is intended to serve as a general summary of the issues outlined therein. While this article may include general guidance, it is not intended as, nor is a substitute for, qualified legal advice. Your review or receipt of this article by Lexern Law Offices, Ltd. (the “LLG”) or any of its attorneys does not create an attorney-client relationship between you and the LLG. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors of the article and do not reflect the opinion of the LLG. Please note that this article may have been generated using AI technology.
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