Not that long ago, estate planning was mostly about homes, bank accounts, and maybe a family business. But in 2025, a new piece of the puzzle has forced its way to the front: digital inheritance.
Think about your own life—email accounts, social media profiles, cloud storage, online banking, even those random subscription services you barely remember signing up for. All of these are part of your legacy now, whether you realize it or not. At Terry Law Firm, P.S., we’ve seen how overlooking digital assets can complicate even the most carefully crafted estate plan.
More than just passwords
When people hear “digital inheritance,” their first thought is usually, “Who will have my passwords?” And sure, access matters. But digital inheritance goes beyond that. For example, a cloud photo library may hold generations of family memories. A cryptocurrency wallet could contain real financial value. Even loyalty points and frequent flyer miles can add up to something worth passing on.
The bigger question is: who gets control of these assets, and how do you make that legally clear?
The emotional side of digital legacies
One client we worked with in Pierce County lost her husband unexpectedly. She was able to navigate the bank accounts and property titles without much trouble, but she couldn’t get into his email account. Months later, important business contacts were still sending messages that went unanswered. It wasn’t about money—it was about closure, about not having access to part of his story.
That’s why digital planning matters. It’s not just practical—it’s deeply personal.
Laws are catching up (slowly)
In Washington, like most states, laws around digital assets are still playing catch-up. Companies have their own policies, and privacy rules often conflict with what families need. Without clear legal authority in your estate plan, your loved ones might face roadblocks when trying to access even the simplest online accounts.
This is where proactive planning with Terry Law Firm, P.S. makes a difference. We help families create instructions that line up with both state law and the policies of major tech companies. It’s not always perfect, but it’s far better than leaving it to chance.
Questions to ask yourself in 2025
- Do I have a secure way to share important digital account information?
- Have I listed digital assets—like online banking, investments, or crypto—alongside traditional ones?
- Does my estate plan name someone to manage my digital presence?
- Am I comfortable with how my social media accounts will be handled after I’m gone?
These may not be easy questions, but they’re worth asking now rather than leaving the burden to your family later.
Why working with a local law firm matters
You can find plenty of online templates for “digital estate planning,” but most don’t account for Washington’s specific legal framework. At Terry Law Firm, P.S., we’ve worked with clients from Tacoma to Seattle who discovered that their cookie-cutter documents didn’t hold up when it mattered most. Each family’s digital life looks different, and the law is still evolving—having a plan tailored to you is essential.
A new part of the legacy conversation
Estate planning used to be about houses, wills, and maybe a safe deposit box. Now, it’s also about Facebook memorial settings, cloud accounts, and digital assets that may not even exist a few years from now. That’s why we encourage clients to treat digital inheritance as a living part of their plan—something that can be updated and revisited as technology changes.
At Terry Law Firm, P.S., we help families see estate planning not as a burden but as a way to protect memories, prevent conflict, and make sure nothing important slips through the cracks. Your digital life is part of your story, and it deserves the same care as everything else you leave behind.
For more information on how to prepare for digital inheritance and protect your family’s future, visit www.terrylawfirm.com.
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