Executor's Guide to Digital Assets
As an executor, you're responsible for managing the deceased's entire estate - including their digital life. This guide covers what you need to know about handling online accounts in Australia.
Last updated: March 2026 | 8 min read
Your Role as Executor
As executor, you have legal authority to manage the deceased's assets - but digital assets present unique challenges. Unlike a house or car, you can't simply take possession of online accounts. Each platform has its own policies, and you'll need to navigate them all.
The good news: most platforms have processes for deceased users. The challenge: there are dozens of them, each different.
Why Digital Assets Matter
Digital assets are more important than many executors realize:
Financial Impact
- Subscriptions continue charging
- PayPal/Venmo may hold funds
- Cryptocurrency could be valuable
- Refunds may be available
Security Risks
- Identity theft from dormant accounts
- Data breaches exposing personal info
- Accounts used for fraud
- Spam sent from compromised accounts
Family Considerations
- Photos and memories to preserve
- Social profiles to memorialize
- Emails may contain important info
- Closure for grieving family
Legal Considerations in Australia
Your Authority as Executor
In Australia, an executor's authority derives from the will and, once obtained, the grant of probate. This authority extends to digital assets, but with complications:
- Most online accounts are governed by the platform's Terms of Service
- Many Terms prohibit sharing passwords or account access
- Some platforms are based overseas (US law may apply)
- Privacy laws protect account contents from unauthorized access
State Variations
Australian states handle digital assets differently:
- NSW: Most explicit provisions for digital assets in succession law
- Victoria: General executor powers apply, no specific digital provisions
- Queensland: Similar to Victoria
- Other states: Rely on general executor authority
Your Step-by-Step Checklist
Phase 1: Immediate (First Week)
- Secure devices - Collect phones, computers, tablets. Don't wipe them yet.
- Check for password manager - Look for 1Password, LastPass, Bitwarden, or browser-saved passwords.
- Review bank statements - Identify recurring charges (subscriptions, memberships).
- Secure email access if possible - Email is the key to most other accounts.
- Document everything - Keep records of accounts found and actions taken.
Phase 2: Discovery (Week 2-3)
- Search email for account confirmations - Look for "welcome", "confirm", "subscription", "receipt".
- Check browser bookmarks and history - Shows frequently visited sites.
- Review app store purchases - Apple App Store, Google Play.
- Check for cryptocurrency - Look for wallet apps, exchange emails (Coinbase, Binance, etc.).
- Ask family members - They may know of accounts.
Phase 3: Closure (Week 3+)
- Prioritize financial accounts - Stop subscriptions charging first.
- Contact each platform - Use their deceased user process.
- Provide documentation - Death certificate, proof of executor status.
- Download data before deletion - Photos, documents, emails if wanted.
- Follow up - Some platforms take weeks to respond.
Common Challenges
No Passwords Available
This is common. You don't need passwords to close most accounts - platforms have deceased user processes specifically for this. You'll need documentation instead.
Two-Factor Authentication
If accounts are protected by 2FA and you don't have the phone, you'll need to go through the platform's account recovery or deceased user process. Having the death certificate helps.
Overseas Platforms
Most major platforms (Facebook, Google, Apple) have global processes. Australian death certificates are accepted. Smaller overseas services may be more difficult.
Finding All Accounts
The average person has 100+ online accounts. You likely won't find them all through manual searching. This is where professional services like ours help - we use specialized tools to discover accounts.
Cryptocurrency
Cryptocurrency is uniquely challenging. Without private keys or seed phrases, it may be permanently inaccessible. If you find evidence of crypto holdings, consider consulting a specialist.
Documentation You'll Need
Gather these documents before starting. You'll need them repeatedly:
- Death certificate - Certified copy
- Grant of probate - Or letters of administration
- Your ID - Driver's license or passport
- Proof of relationship - If not the named executor
- The will - Some platforms request this
The Real Time Commitment
Let's be honest about what DIY digital estate management actually involves:
| Finding accounts | 3-5 hours |
| Researching each platform's process | 5-10 hours |
| Submitting requests (50+ accounts) | 10-20 hours |
| Following up on non-responses | 5-10 hours |
| Total | 25-45+ hours |
That's a full work week - spread over several weeks or months - during one of the most difficult periods of your life. And that's assuming everything goes smoothly, which it rarely does.
When to Get Help
Most executors find the digital estate more time-consuming than expected. Consider professional assistance if:
- You value your time at more than $5-10/hour
- You have other estate matters requiring your attention
- You're already overwhelmed with grief and responsibilities
- You don't want to spend weeks learning platform policies
- You'd rather pay a flat fee than deal with uncertainty
- Platforms aren't responding to your requests
For $249, we handle everything. Account discovery, every platform contact, all documentation, all follow-up. You get a complete report when it's done. Most executors find this is well worth it.
Let us handle the digital estate
We discover accounts, contact every platform, and handle all the paperwork. You get a complete report.
Get Started - $249