Most people think of estate planning as deciding who will inherit their home, bank accounts, or other property. But today, many of our most valuable financial and personal assets exist online.
Whether it’s email, cloud storage, online banking, social media, or cryptocurrency, your digital accounts deserve the same attention as the rest of your estate plan. If you’re searching for an estate planning attorney in Canton, understanding how digital assets fit into your plan is an important place to start.
What Counts as a Digital Asset?
Digital assets include much more than financial accounts. They may also include items with sentimental value or information your loved ones will need if something happens to you.
Common examples include:
- Email accounts
- Online banking and investment accounts
- Cloud storage for photos and important documents
- Social media profiles
- Rewards and loyalty programs
- Streaming subscriptions
- Cryptocurrency and digital wallets
- Healthcare and insurance portals
Without proper planning, your family may have difficulty identifying or accessing these accounts when they’re needed most.
Why Estate Planning Documents Should Address Digital Assets
Many powers of attorney and estate plans were created before digital assets became an everyday part of life. Depending on how your documents are written, the person you’ve chosen to help manage your affairs may not have the authority needed to access certain online accounts.
Georgia has adopted laws that allow fiduciaries—such as agents acting under a power of attorney or personal representatives administering an estate—to request access to certain digital assets. However, access often depends on your estate planning documents, the account provider’s policies, and any privacy settings or online tools you selected during your lifetime.
Reviewing your estate plan regularly helps ensure it reflects both your current assets and the technology you use every day.
Don’t Overlook Your Email and Mobile Devices
Your email account often serves as the gateway to many other accounts. Financial institutions, healthcare providers, and online services commonly send password reset links and security notifications by email.
Your smartphone may also be essential, as many accounts require multi-factor authentication via text messages or authentication apps.
If no one knows these accounts exist or has the legal authority to request access when appropriate, settling your affairs can become more complicated than necessary.
Special Planning for Cryptocurrency
Cryptocurrency requires additional planning because it is handled differently from traditional financial assets.
If you store cryptocurrency in a private digital wallet, losing the recovery phrase or private keys may make those assets permanently inaccessible. Even when cryptocurrency is held through an exchange, your representative will still need clear legal authority and enough information to locate and manage the account.
If digital currency is part of your portfolio, it’s wise to discuss it during the estate planning process so your overall plan addresses these unique challenges.
Practical Steps You Can Take Today
Planning for digital assets doesn’t mean sharing all of your passwords with family members. Instead, consider taking practical steps such as:
- Creating an inventory of your important online accounts.
- Using strong, unique passwords and enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Storing login information in a secure password manager with appropriate emergency access features.
- Keeping records of digital assets, including cryptocurrency, in a secure location.
- Reviewing your estate plan after major life or technology changes.
Some people also leave separate written instructions identifying the person they would like to help manage digital assets. These instructions should work alongside, not replace, the authority provided in your estate planning documents.
Key Takeaways
- Digital assets include financial accounts, email, photos, social media, and cryptocurrency.
- Older estate planning documents may not adequately address access to online accounts.
- Georgia law allows certain fiduciaries to request access to digital assets, but proper planning remains essential.
- Regularly reviewing your estate plan helps ensure it reflects your digital life as well as your traditional assets.
Include Your Digital Life in Your Estate Plan
Your estate plan should reflect how you live today. As more of our financial and personal lives move online, planning for digital assets can help reduce unnecessary stress for the people you care about most.
At Steele Law Firm, we help individuals and families throughout Marietta, Roswell, Canton, and the surrounding communities create estate plans that protect both traditional and digital assets. If you’re looking for an estate planning attorney in Canton, we’re here to help you understand your options and create a plan tailored to your goals. Request a consultation to learn more.
References: Saving Advice (May 22, 2026) “Don’t Forget Your Digital POA: New Laws Grant Agents Access To Your Email, Online Accounts And Crypto” and National Council on Aging (December 23, 2025) “Personal Cybersecurity Tips for Seniors: Protect Your Online Life“