Don't leave burning relatives searching for passwords: how to organize your digital life before you die

Previously, you didn't care much about your email, the website you bought years ago, or the logins and passwords for various financial and other accounts. But it's important right now. Now you need to ensure that your loved ones have access to your digital assets in the event of your death. "Digital assets are becoming an increasingly important part of people's legacy - they can no longer be ignored," says Karen Van Voris, a certified financial planner with Daniel J. Galli & A

How do you make sure your digital assets don't disappear with you?

What the experts say:

• Include digital assets in your legacy plan. As any age has lived, few people pay attention, says Kashif Ahmed, president of American Private Wealth. "Include provisions in your will authorizing your designated executor to access your digital assets and close your digital accounts, especially social media accounts such as Facebook." Ahmed has witnessed "horror stories" of social media accounts remaining active even after a person's death and falling into the hands of another person.
• Barbara O'Neil, CEO of Money Talk, recommends filling out a digital asset inventory spreadsheet and sharing it with trusted individuals, such as your spouse and the executor of your wills. An example of such a table can be found on the website. However, it pays to be careful, as it can take hours to confirm logins and passwords, O'Neil says. And don't skip a single account, Van Voris says.