What Happens to a Person’s Digital Assets After They Pass Away?

Digital assets are an increasingly important part of modern estate planning. These assets include email accounts, social media profiles, online banking, cloud storage, digital photos, and even cryptocurrency.

Connecticut has adopted laws that address access to digital assets after death, but access is not automatic. Without proper authorization, family members may be unable to retrieve or manage online accounts.

Estate planning documents can grant authority to fiduciaries to access digital assets. This may include specific language in wills, trusts, and powers of attorney authorizing access under applicable law.

It is also helpful to maintain an inventory of digital assets and instructions for accessing them. This inventory should be kept secure and updated regularly.

Planning for digital assets helps preserve important information, protect privacy, and ease administration for loved ones. As technology continues to evolve, digital planning has become a necessary part of a comprehensive estate plan.

Estate planning is highly personal, and Connecticut law plays an important role in how documents function in practice. A well-designed plan considers not only individual documents, but how they work together over time.

This article is provided for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice.