Pittsburgh (USA): What happens to a person’s credit cards, online shopping accounts, digital newspaper and magazine subscriptions, social media profiles, and entertainment service accounts after their death? How will heirs access these accounts, and how will they know what the deceased wanted done with them?
Most people have never seriously thought about these questions. The lack of planning can create significant problems for close relatives.
Researchers studied the challenges older adults face when thinking about managing their online accounts after death. They interviewed 21 American adults over the age of 60 about their concerns, needs, and current practices related to online accounts, and explored how planning for the management of these accounts could be made easier.
Physical Assets Have Plans — Digital Ones Often Don’t
Most of the people interviewed had already prepared wills with the help of lawyers or estate planning professionals. These wills clearly explained how their money and physical assets should be managed after death. They wanted their heirs to have easy access to the property and wealth they left behind.
They also wanted their families to be able to access their digital assets easily. However, they had made no formal plans for this. Many did not know the process of transferring or closing email, social media, and online bill-payment accounts. Some had never thought about it at all, while others believed that simply sharing passwords would be enough.
In reality, ensuring a smooth transfer of digital assets requires far more preparation.
Sharing a Password List Is Not Enough
Most of the older adults in the study kept their passwords written on paper or stored in a digital file. Almost all of them had shared some passwords with family members who helped manage their online accounts. They trusted that their heirs would be able to find the password list after their death.
However, many were not satisfied with their current system. Constantly changing passwords made it difficult to keep the list updated. They worried that heirs might not get the latest passwords.
Cybersecurity experts recommend using a password manager. These tools securely store and update passwords for all accounts. Some password managers also offer emergency access features — if the user does not respond for a set period, a designated heir can gain access to the accounts.
Keeping the master password written in a safe place is also useful. This way, heirs only need to manage one password instead of dozens.
Passwords Alone May Not Grant Access
Simply handing over passwords does not always guarantee access to accounts. Many online services use two-factor authentication. This requires a code sent to a mobile phone or email in addition to the password.
If the mobile number is deactivated or the email account is closed after death, heirs may find it very difficult to access the accounts.
To avoid this problem, it is important to identify the devices and accounts that are used to access other accounts. Heirs should be instructed to keep these devices and accounts active until other accounts are settled. This allows them to receive authentication codes and reset passwords when needed.
Some online platforms already offer features that let users designate someone to manage the account or retrieve data after death. Facebook and Google provide such options. However, not all digital platforms offer this facility, and many of the older adults in the study were unaware of these options.
Online Accounts Do Not Automatically Close After Death
A person’s online accounts do not shut down automatically after death. Even if they contain no important information, hackers can misuse them for identity theft, spam, and fraud.
In addition, automatic payments such as monthly streaming service fees or annual magazine subscriptions can continue for a long time. Without clear instructions, heirs may not know which accounts to close and which ones to keep managing.
Therefore, it is essential to prepare a complete list of all online accounts along with clear instructions. The list should specify which accounts can be closed immediately, which require a final payment, and which need other actions.
Regularly reviewing digital accounts and closing those that are no longer in use makes the list easier to manage.
Advance Planning Reduces Burden on Heirs
Managing a person’s digital assets after death can be far more complicated than expected. That is why planning in advance is essential.
Maintaining an organised record of online accounts, passwords, two-factor authentication details, and instructions for closing accounts can significantly reduce the difficulties faced by heirs. It also ensures that digital assets are handled according to the deceased person’s wishes.
Taking these steps now can spare the next generation unnecessary struggle and confusion.
