Most people imagine estate planning involves a stack of dusty papers kept in a lawyer's basement. In 2026, that vision is outdated.

Your life now spreads across brokerage apps, crypto wallets, cloud storage, and social media.

If you lack a plan for these digital assets, your family might lose access to your photos, your money, and your legacy.

Setting up a digital will and trust is the modern way to see that your wishes are followed. It goes beyond who gets the house; it involves who manages your online footprint.

Here is how to get it done without the headache.

Step 1: Inventory Your Digital World

The first step is knowing what you actually own online. This part takes time since we use so many services every day.

Start by making a list of your accounts:

  • Financial Accounts: Banking apps, PayPal, Venmo, and brokerage platforms.
  • Investment Assets: Cryptocurrency keys, NFTs, and any staking or lending positions.
  • Social & Personal: Email accounts, social media profiles, and cloud storage where you keep family photos.
  • Businesses: Domain names, websites, or monetized channels like YouTube.

Avoid listing your passwords directly in your will—wills become public records after death.

Instead, use a password manager to store everything securely and grant access to your trusted representative later.

Step 2: Choose Your Digital Representative

You need someone who can carry out your wishes. This person—often called a digital executor—needs to be someone you trust implicitly.

They also need to be tech-savvy. Managing a crypto wallet or memorializing a Facebook profile is a specific skill set that a traditional executor might lack.

Talk to this person before naming them. See if they feel comfortable navigating the platforms you use and if they know where to find your instructions when the time comes.

Step 3: Pick the Right Service for Your Needs

For most people, using an online service is the fastest path. Platforms like LegalZoom and Trust & Will lead this space in 2026.

Trust & Will is often cited as the easiest for those who want a clean, guided experience. They use simple language and provide clear instructions on how to make your documents legal in your specific state.

LegalZoom offers a massive range of options, including access to licensed attorneys if your estate is more complex.

These services walk you through a questionnaire and generate the necessary documents for you to sign.

Many states now allow electronic signatures and remote notarization, meaning you can finish your entire plan from your couch.

Step 4: Make it Legally Binding

A list of passwords on a sticky note isn't a legal document. To see that your plan has teeth, it must follow state law.

Most states have adopted the Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act (RUFADAA).

This law gives your executor the legal right to access your accounts if you have given them permission in your will or trust.

Check your state's requirements for witnessing and notarizing.

Some states still require a physical signature in front of two witnesses, while others have fully embraced digital versions.

Step 5: Store and Update Regularly

Life moves fast. You might close an old bank account or open a new crypto wallet tomorrow.

Your digital estate plan is a living document. Store your plan in a secure "digital vault" or with your attorney.

See that your executor knows how to get in.

Set a reminder to review your plan once a year. A plan from 2024 might be useless by 2026 if all your assets have shifted to new platforms.

Final Thoughts

Digital estate planning isn't just for the wealthy or the tech-obsessed. It is for anyone with a smartphone and an online life.

Taking these steps now saves your loved ones from a legal nightmare later and sees that your digital legacy stays exactly as you intended.