Digital Afterlife Planning Checklist

Preparing Your Digital Life for Death or Incapacity 

Digital Inventory 

• [ ] Create a secure, up-to-date list of all digital accounts, services, and subscriptions. 

• [ ] Include device names and operating systems (e.g., ‘MacBook Pro – FileVault enabled’). 

• [ ] Record MFA settings and recovery procedures for each asset. 

• [ ] Review and update the inventory at least annually. 

Password Management 

• [ ] Store all account credentials in a trusted password manager. 

• [ ] Ensure all passwords are actually stored within the password manager, not kept separately. 

• [ ] Enable emergency access or designate a digital heir. 

• [ ] Print and store the password manager’s recovery materials (e.g., 1Password Emergency Kit) in a secure location. 

Devices and MFA 

• [ ] List and store PINs/passcodes for critical devices. 

• [ ] Save recovery keys for encrypted drives (BitLocker/FileVault). 

• [ ] Share backup codes or register alternative MFA methods accessible to a trusted contact. 

Cloud Services and Smart Home 

• [ ] Designate Apple Legacy Contact and configure Google Inactive Account Manager. 

• [ ] Document access instructions for smart home devices (locks, thermostats, etc.). 

Financial and Legal Files 

• [ ] Organize digital copies of tax documents, legal files, and financial trackers in a secure cloud location. 

• [ ] Share access instructions with your digital executor or include them in your will. 

Social Media and Online Accounts 

• [ ] Decide what should happen to each major account (memorialize, delete, transfer). 

• [ ] Set up legacy contact or account manager access where available. 

Business and Organizational Access 

• [ ] Document succession plans for business-critical accounts and systems. 

• [ ] Train alternate personnel and store recovery materials securely. 

• [ ] Audit admin-level access regularly and include contingency plans in HR policy.