Your Cyber Legacy: Planning for the Digital Side of Your Estate

When most people think about estate planning, they picture bank accounts, homes, cars, or family heirlooms. But in today’s digital world, your online life is just as much a part of your legacy.

At Dixie Law Group, PSC, we help families across Kentucky protect what matters most—and that now includes your digital assets. From photos stored in the cloud to social media accounts and cryptocurrency, these digital possessions often hold real value and sentimental meaning. Yet, they’re also one of the most commonly overlooked parts of an estate plan.

If you didn’t think about your digital assets when creating your will or trust, you’re not alone. The good news? It’s an easy mistake to fix.

What Counts as a Digital Asset?

Digital assets can include:

• Photos, videos, and files stored on your phone, computer, or cloud

• Email accounts and personal records

• Cryptocurrency or NFTs

• Domain names and websites

• Social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, TikTok, etc.)

• Content creation or influencer accounts (YouTube, Twitch, etc.)

• Online business or affiliate marketing accounts (Etsy, Shopify, Amazon, Google, etc.)

• Databases, backups, or digital business records

Some of these—like crypto wallets or monetized YouTube channels—can hold significant financial value. Others, like family photos or email archives, carry priceless emotional value. Without a plan, these digital legacies can be lost or inaccessible when you’re gone.

3 Steps to Protect Your Digital Assets

1. Create an Inventory
   Make a complete list of your online accounts and digital assets. Include login details, account numbers, and where these assets are stored. This step is especially important if you run a business that relies on digital tools or data. Share this list securely with your attorney and trusted decision-makers so they know where to find it when it matters most.

2. Choose a Digital Fiduciary
   Just like you name someone to handle your financial or healthcare decisions, you can appoint a “digital fiduciary”—a trusted person who can manage your online accounts if you become incapacitated or pass away. Many states, including Kentucky, follow the Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act (RUFADAA), which governs how this access is handled.
   
   Some platforms make this even easier. For example, Google’s Inactive Account Manager or Apple’s Digital Legacy settings allow you to pre-authorize access.

3. Update Your Estate Plan
   Your will, trust, and power of attorney should specifically address your digital assets. In some cases, it may make sense to include digital property in a trust or give explicit access rights to your fiduciary. The laws surrounding digital assets continue to evolve, so reviewing your plan regularly ensures it stays up to date.

Why It Matters

Failing to plan for digital assets can have real consequences. Important memories could be lost forever, businesses can grind to a halt, and loved ones may face legal barriers to accessing online accounts.

Taking the time to plan now ensures your digital life—and the memories, income, and legacy attached to it—don’t disappear into cyberspace.

At Dixie Law Group, our experienced estate planning attorneys can help you identify, organize, and protect your digital assets as part of your overall estate plan. We’ll walk you through every step so you can rest easy knowing your digital footprint is secure.

Secure Your Cyber Legacy

Your life is more digital than ever—and your estate plan should reflect that. Visit us at one of our offices in Louisville, Mt. Washington, or Hillview, or contact us today to schedule a consultation. Let’s make sure your online legacy is protected, accessible, and part of the story you leave behind.